A pregnant woman was arrested in Tin Shui Wai on Monday night, but was only sent to hospital four hours after she vomited.
Police officers arrested six people at around 9pm on suspicion of criminal damage inside a pedestrian tunnel on Tin Shing Road. The six, including one man and five women aged between 16 and 26, were pasting up protest posters. Four spray paint cans were also found at the scene.
They were told to kneel on the ground after the arrest. A 22-year-old woman – who is four months pregnant – was among them.
A clip circulating online showed her vomiting, though officers did not appear to immediately respond.
Another clip showed officers shouting at an onlooker whilst the woman was throwing up, demanding he leave the scene as officers were handling a criminal damage case.
The pregnant woman’s boyfriend told Apple Daily that she bumped into a metal railing during the arrest and vomited.
Her partner said she was detained at Tin Shui Wai’s police station before being escorted by officers to a hospital at around 1:15am Tuesday. Tin Shui Wai district councillor-elect Lam Chun also said the woman was sent to a hospital only after four hours had passed.
As of Tuesday noon, the pregnant woman was still hospitalised. HKFP has reached out to the police for comment.
Large-scale protests have continued since June. Initially against a now-withdrawn extradition bill, the movement has escalated as protesters demand democracy and an independent investigation into police behaviour. Over the months, protesters have often pasted up posters in public to spread awareness of the cause.
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