IPCC recommendations accepted

May 15, 2020

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

 

The Government today accepted all 52 recommendations made by the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) in its Thematic Study Report on the Public Order Events arising from the Fugitive Offenders Bill since June 2019 and the Police Actions in Response.

 

Chief Executive Carrie Lam told the media that she and the Secretary for Security attach a lot of importance to the report and each of the recommendations.

 

“That's why, broadly speaking, I accept all these recommendations and have asked the Secretary for Security to personally chair a task force to look at how each and every recommendation should be followed through.

 

“I have explained at length the role of the Police Force. They are there to enforce the law, they have no other purposes. They are not involved in politics. But if anybody breaches the law, it is the duty of police officers to enforce the law. So throughout almost one year of social unrest, that is the primary duty of the Hong Kong Police Force.”

 

While Mrs Lam conceded that Police could have handled certain situations better, she emphasised that the Government will strive to follow the recommendations as well as areas of work that she has outlined.

 

“In the course of carrying out duties, given the very complicated and difficult circumstances, there were of course situations that could be handled better. There were of course deficiencies in communications, in staff deployment and in other things as pointed out by the IPCC in its thematic report. So that is where we should find room for improvement.

 

“As far as social tension (is concerned), I think it will continue because, one, Hong Kong is a very free society. Secondly, we are still faced with a lot of confrontations, either in the Legislative Council or in the district councils.

 

“So I am not naive to think that the publication of the report or my response to the report - even accepting all the recommendations for implementation - will put an end to this social unrest.

 

“But at least we will make every attempt to follow through the recommendations and also the several areas of work that I have outlined.”

 

Click here for more details about the report.

Back to top