As you may be aware, there are widespread pro-democracy protests currently taking place in Hong Kong. This is in response to China’s decision to restrict candidate nominations for Hong Kong’s election for chief executive in 2017. China decreed that any potential candidates must be endorsed by Beijing before securing a spot on the ballot. The protests started shortly after this decision in late August and culminated the weekend of September 27-28, 2014 in mass sit-ins taking place in major areas of Hong Kong.
On September 28, there were confirmed reports in the international media, as well as photographic and video evidence, about the excessive and disproportionate use of force by the Hong Kong Police against peaceful demonstrators. The Hong Kong Police used teargas, pepper spray and batons to disperse the crowds, many of whom were young students. The demonstrators only had umbrellas, plastic wrap and goggles as protection, and were otherwise unarmed.
The Hong Kong Bar Association (“HKBA”) released a statement on September 29, 2014 condemning the actions of the Hong Kong Police. The HKBA recognized that “there can be scope for disagreement on the underlying political debate or demands leading to the demonstration”, but that the use of excessive or disproportionate force could not be justified. FACL agrees with the HKBA’s statement against the Police’s excessive and disproportionate use of force and offers the following message of support from our President, Lai-King Hum.
To the Hong Kong Bar Association:
I write to you in my capacity as President of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers. Please see attached our Statement in support of the Statement of the HKBA on the Use of Force by the Hong Kong Police at Harcourt Road on 28 September 2014.
Lai-King Hum
President, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers
To review the above-referenced Statements:
Statement from the Hong Kong Bar Association dated September 28, 2014
FACL’s Statement in Support of the Hong Kong Bar Association dated September 30, 2014
FACL’s Statement has also been posted in the “FACL Press Releases and Submissions” section of our Media page.