Hong Kong police have dropped plans to fine a 12-year-old girl after being widely criticised for tackling her to the ground during a demonstration in Mong Kok two months ago.
Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Andy Yu Tak-po said police told him they had revoked a penalty ticket charging the girl, Pamela, and her brother, Steven, with violating a Covid-19 ban on public gatherings of more than two people.
The siblings were visiting Yau Ma Tei to buy art supplies for class on September 6 but could not pass through a police cordon. In a HKUST Radio News Reporting Team clip, Pamela can be seen running away from police on Sai Yeung Choi Street South before being tackled to the ground by a riot policeman and restrained by three officers.
The police defended their conduct, saying “minimum necessary force” was used to subdue Pamela after she “ran away in a suspicious manner.”
Riot police deployed in force across Yau Tsim Mong that day after banning a protest on what would have been polling day for Legislative Council elections. Protesters were unhappy at the government decision to delay the LegCo polls for a year citing the coronavirus.
They also took to the streets against the national security law imposed on June 30 and the launch of a Covid-19 “health code.” Police made 289 arrests and fired pepperballs and pepper spray.
The siblings both submitted their defence to the police later that month with the help of Andy Yu.
Yu said their mother plans to file a complaint against the officers involved and is considering possible legal action.
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