Hong Kong: activists want to prosecute expatriate British officers for "torture"

These British officers expatriated in Hong Kong are accused of having directly supervised the crackdown ordered by Beijing (photo illustration). REUTERS / Laurel Chor

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An international group of lawyers and activists announced on Monday that they intended to prosecute in the United Kingdom, for "torture", British officers of the Hong Kong police force involved in the crackdown on pro-democracy protests. in this former British colony. 

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Since Hong Kong's handover to China in 1997, high-ranking British officers have continued to serve in the Hong Kong police. According to the group of lawyers and activists, three of the six regional commanders are expatriate British officers who played a key role and directly oversaw the Beijing-ordered crackdown. 

The group accuses the police of disproportionate use of force and cruel and inhuman treatment against pro-democracy protesters, including rapes committed in police custody. These British nationals could therefore be prosecuted for offenses over which the United Kingdom claims universal jurisdiction, which includes torture. 

This action is led in particular by the young Hong Kong activist Nathan Law , a refugee in London after the entry into force of the national security law, and Luke de Pulford, member of the British Conservative Party and of the NGO Hong Kong Watch .

► To read: Jimmy Lai: "The national security law signs the death sentence of Hong Kong"

BREAKING: backed by @nathanlawkc and a coalition of orgs I have commissioned @emmprosecutions with @MichaelPolakLaw to pursue a private prosecution against certain British expat police officers in #HongKong for torture.

Please donate to the legal fund: https://t.co/9PjUoy32DH pic.twitter.com/AnRD50ORhI

  Luke from Pulford 裴 倫德 (@lukedepulford) August 10, 2020

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  • Hong Kong
  • China
  • United Kingdom
  • Justice
  • Human rights

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