The Standard - Latest NewsToday, 07:04
Seven police officers have been charged with allegedly beating up Occupy activist Ken Tsang Kin-chiu in a dark spot during last year's protests.
The authorities have obviously shifted their public relations machinery up to a higher gear to manage public expectations through media leaks, ahead of the first anniversary of the incident that fell yesterday.
It had been speculated the officers would face a less serious charge. To everybody's surprise, they've been hit with the more serious count of assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent - which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The impact is immediate. Nobody can continue to accuse the government of protecting its own men.
The alleged beating occurred in Tamar Park a year ago to the day. After TVB aired footage of the incident, the officers were suspended from duty. Given the footage, government officials knew it would be hard to explain themselves if they didn't take action.
There's the saying that justice delayed is justice denied.
It's the public perception that there has been a delay. The question is whether justice is denied too.
On Monday, the officers will appear in court. There are no grounds to doubt the case will be handled fairly.
Tsang, a Civic Party member, was also charged yesterday for allegedly assaulting and obstructing police officers in the protests, during which he splashed an unidentified liquid - possibly urine - on other officers before his arrest.
TV footage also show him apparently scuffling with police.
Tsang claimed he is a victim of political suppression and persecution - turning from a plaintiff into a defendant - as he accused the force of trying to use his case to divert attention from the seven officers. Could this be true?
Even if it is so, Tsang can rest assured that most media organizations would give far more coverage to the seven officers than him since he isn't nearly as newsworthy as the men in blue.
But as he cries foul, he's also suspected of trying to divert public attention from himself. How's that for a double standard? Perhaps the biggest exaggeration is his assertion that by prosecuting him, the government is declaring a war on the public. It's the type of comment that one would expect from a coward rather than a hero.
The matter is multifaceted. Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok- keung said emphatically the case is apolitical. He's trying to set a standard tone for the matter.
With this in mind, the force may say there are nearly 29,000 officers, and it would be grossly unfair to tar all of them with the same brush because of the acts of a few.
But will the rank and file agree?
It's questionable, for two police associations have raised HK$10 million to help the seven officers.
Will some think they've become sacrificial lambs in face of a greater cause?
That's a morale issue police commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung has inherited from his predecessor and must address.
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