Hong Kong police charged after protester beaten on video

Seven Hong Kong police officers were on Thursday charged for attacking a protestor during last year’s pro-democracy demonstrations, the media reported on Thursday.

On Thursday, Mr Tsang was told he would also be charged for assault and resisting arrest – charges he described as “groundless”.

On Thursday a furious Tsang expressed his shock at receiving a call from police telling him that he was to be arrested and charged for attacking officers.

The officers are due to appear in a magistrate’s court Monday.

The spokeswoman provided information on condition of anonymity following office practice.

Last year’s incident took place during mass pro-democracy demonstrations and sit-ins that drew tens of thousands at their peak and paralysed Hong Kong’s streets for more than two months.

As protesters and police battled into the early hours of October 15, 2014, for control of an underpass outside government headquarters, local station TVB videotaped officers taking a handcuffed Tsang behind a building in a nearby park.

One stands over him and punches him, as three others are seen repeatedly kicking him, in a case that has rocked the reputation of the normally respected police force.

Dismissing suggestions that charging both Tsang and the seven on the same day was an attempt to divert the public’s attention, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung said on Thursday evening that the alleged offences all happened in a very short time span, so both cases should be handled simultaneously.

It was not clear to what incident the charges relate.

“All this should not be happening one year later…”

The officers were suspended from duty in November but Tsang’s supporters accused authorities of dragging their feet after the investigation stalled.

Asked about reports of the prosecution, Tsang said it came too late, Apple Daily reported.

Police refused to comment on the case against Tsang.

He and his legal team argue that if the names are revealed they can pursue the case privately, in the event that the public case fails.

On Wednesday night, around 100 people rallied at the “dark corner” to protest police violence during the Umbrella Movement.