Red Cross apologizes after staff member wore anti-police accessories during a blood drive at auxiliary headquarters

The Red Cross has apologized after an employee of the organization wore anti-police accessories while administering a blood drive at the Auxiliary Police headquarters earlier this week.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Red Cross said that the service and attitude of a staff member was “not ideal” that day, and apologized for the “misunderstanding and unhappiness caused.”

“The Red Cross will continue to serve the people in need with fundamental principles such as humanity, impartiality and neutrality,” the organization said, adding that the incident will be further followed up on through the complaint mechanism of the Hospital Authority.

https://www.facebook.com/hongkongredcross/posts/10157377070040677

On June 23, a staff member from the Red Cross’ Blood Transfusion Service manning a blood donation counter at the police unit headquarters reportedly wore accessories that read “black cops, may your whole family die” and “oppose brutality,” as well as ornaments resembling a gas mask and a yellow helmet.

Police demanded that Red Cross staff disclose the name and position of the individual, but were declined. Police then called off the event, ending the blood drive around three hours earlier than it was supposed to finish.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Jeremy Tam criticized the police for having “double standards” in requesting the Red Cross to provide the name of the employee they were displeased with, yet concealing their own identities on duty.

Read more: ‘It’s just not fair’: Vice chair of police complaints body says riot cops shouldn’t have to display ID

Since protests began last year, police officers have been accused of not displaying their warrant cards or identification numbers, an apparent attempt to evade accountability for their actions during confrontations with protesters. (By law, police are required to prove their identity if asked.)

“They are exerting pressure on the Red Cross by refusing to give blood,” lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho told Apple Daily.

The force told RTHK that it was only an “isolated incident,” and they “look forward to continue cooperating” with the Red Cross in future.

Last week, the organization appealed to members of the public with blood types A and B to donate blood last week as the inventory of these two types of blood was running low.