Hong Kong police were largely “shocked” that only one defendant among seven was found guilty over a thwarted bomb plot to kill officers, a union chief said on Sunday.
Lam Chi-wai, chairman of the Junior Police Officers’ Association, said the acquittal of six defendants in the “Dragon Slaying Brigade” case could lead to misconceptions about one’s criminal liability.
“Seven defendants had already pleaded guilty in the case, guns and explosives were found and there was a complete plan,” he said in a television interview.
“With this judgment, I am worried that most residents, especially young people, could have a misconception that the move does not necessarily come with any criminal liabilities.”
Fourteen people were charged for allegedly plotting to detonate explosives and kill police officers on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai in December 2019, at the height of the anti-government protests.
Only one was found guilty by a High Court jury on Thursday among seven defendants who had pleaded not guilty.
Chung Suet-ying, 33, who earlier pleaded guilty, was sentenced to seven years and four months on Friday for possession of a rifle and more than 200 bullets related to the plot.
Union chief Lam said he believed the seven-year jail term would carry a certain deterrent effect.
He added that the police force generally “felt safer” following the passage of the city’s domestic national security law in March, but it remained necessary for authorities to enact legislation to prohibit acts of insulting public officers.
“It’s understandable and acceptable that some people would be unhappy with our enforcement and vent their anger and frustrations, but deliberately insulting or provoking officers with expletives should not be tolerated,” he said.
“We need a law to protect enforcement officers.”
He said officers came across such comments online from time to time. Other unions also told them some residents would often scold or insult officers handling their cases.
Lam said they were now in talks with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau to push for the legislation, adding that France and Singapore had enacted similar laws to protect officers.
