'Undercover Officer' Beaten In Tseung Kwan O

Protesters attacked a suspected undercover police officer in Tseung Kwan O on Sunday evening, leaving the man bleeding heavily from the head.

A crowd of masked protesters had confronted the man on Tong Chun Street, on suspicions that he was an undercover officer.

At least three men beat and kicked him. One of them was holding a tool of some kind.

Afterwards, a volunteer first aid worker tried to treat his injuries, as he bled from the face and head.

Protesters then found an extendable baton that’s often used by undercover police inside his backpack. Someone then appeared to take the baton and throw it down a drain.

Riot police soon arrived and pushed journalists back.

An officer tried to lower himself into the drain in an apparent attempt to retrieve the baton, but failed.

The force later said in a statement that two plainclothes officers were assaulted by "mobs of rioters" at around 7.30pm in Tseung Kwan O, causing head injuries to both.

"We were infuriated by rioters’ brutal assaults. The police will carry out thorough investigations against all violent acts", the statement said.

Anti-government demonstrators have been highly critical of the police practice of sending undercover officers to mix in with the protesters, often accusing the police of trying to stir up trouble.

There have been a number of attacks on people they suspect of being undercover police, with officers pulling out their guns and firing warning shots on at least two occasions.

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