Hong Kong police allegedly caught on video beating prominent activist

Hong Kong police allegedly caught on video beating prominent activist
(Image credit: YouTube)

After six officers were allegedly caught on video beating and kicking a political activist, Hong Kong police issued a statement Wednesday promising an "impartial" investigation. The news comes as Hong Kong is well into its third week of pro-democracy demonstrations.

The victim has been identified as Ken Tsang, a member of the Civic Party. Tsang was one of 45 protesters arrested in Hong Kong on Wednesday, and he reportedly did not resist the police officers during the attack.

Lai Tung Kwok, Hong Kong's secretary of security, said in a statement that the "officers involved will be temporarily removed from their current duties." After news of the video broke, protesters planned a demonstration for Wednesday afternoon outside Hong Kong's police headquarters, Time reports.

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After demonstrators stopped traffic in the city's Lung Wo Road tunnel, the protesters set up "reinforcing devices" around the tunnel on Tuesday night, Time reports from Hong Kong. The protesters also built a "symbolic grave" for Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong's chief executive, whom the protesters are demanding resign from office. Check out the video in question below. --Meghan DeMaria

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.