Hong Kong police today insisted that their officers were capable of controlling their personal feelings when policing public events in spite of insulting rhetoric aimed at demonstrators and the press, saying a clinical psychologist monitors the “overall situation of the force.”
The comments were made at a press conference this afternoon in response to a question by an RTHK reporter, who noted that the outlet had “seen and actually filmed officers, some wearing PPRB [Police Public Relations Bureau] vests, openly referring to protesters, journalists, and passers-by as ‘cockroaches.'”
https://twitter.com/ChowScmp/status/1165226565292085248
The reporter then went on to ask if Hong Kong police officers were “emotionally fit” and “impartial” enough to carry out their duties.
Responding to the question, Senior Superintendent Kong Wing-cheung of the PPRB said that officers have been under a lot of pressure and are regularly provoked, often verbally, by protesters during public rallies.
However, he said, “Please rest assured that internally the police force have the capability to care about the emotional well-being of our officers through our clinical psychologist. They will continuously monitor the overall situation of the force.”
Chief Superintendent John Tse Chun-chung also chimed in, noting that “if protesters don’t use violence, police won’t use force.”
“Basically our colleagues are well aware of their reactions in the face of provocation from the citizens… and all of our officers show close bonding and take care of each other’s feelings when they’re being provoked,” he said.
“They show strong resilience against challenges and have the capability to control their emotions, and that’s why we’re confident that our officers can manage their emotions properly and maintain sound mental health when they deal with their daily duties.”
When the same reporter asked why the situation “hasn’t been improving, even with the clinical psychologist,” Tse declined to comment further.
When pressed by other reporters in the room to answer the question, Kong admitted that some of the remarks made by officers “may not be appropriate.”
“But as I’ve always stressed, effective communication is based on respect from each other. I personally will welcome a more respectful communication environment outside so that our officers can keep a good temper, and protesters will rightly exercise their freedom of expression and freedom of public [assembly].”
Anti-government protesters have been referred to as “cockroaches” by pro-Beijing entities — including some of the social media accounts identified as participating in a China-backed disinformation campaign — as well as by the Junior Police Officers’ Association in a statement following a day of city-wide protests on Aug. 5.
Senior police officials distanced themselves from the statement at the time, as did Tse himself, who chalked the insults up to heightened emotions, according to HKFP.
“It is understandable that anyone would be emotional under this pressurized working environment,” Tse said.
Since protests began, numerous videos have circulated of police appearing to lose their cool, at times hurling vulgar insults at protesters and journalists, and appearing to use force when not strictly necessary.
.@hkpoliceforce subdue a protester. Journalists are blocked from filming. “Are you still filming? I’m warning you!” #hongkongprotests #tsuenwan pic.twitter.com/cuEYtw7WNp
— Jeffie Lam (@jeffielam) August 25, 2019
During the press briefing, police also said that a total of 86 people were arrested for taking part in protests over the weekend.
On Saturday, 32 people — 22 males and 10 females, aged 16 to 53 — were arrested. On Sunday, a total of 54 people — 45 males and nine females, aged 12 to 51 — were arrested. The offenses they were detained on suspicion of include unlawful assembly, assaulting a police officer, and possession of illegal weapons.
Police also said that they fired 70 tear gas canisters, 24 rubber bullets, and 31 foam rounds on Saturday, and 145 tear gas canisters, 50 rubber bullets, four bean bag rounds, 13 foam rounds on Sunday — as well as one warning shot from an officer’s service revolver.
