Pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmaker Roy Kwong hospitalised after attack by three men in Tin Shui Wai car park
- Kwong, 36, was ambushed by three people, including one who was filming, as he walked to his car at around 10am on Tuesday morning
- Lawmaker says attack on pro-democracy camp is ‘international scandal’
A pro-democracy lawmaker and prominent figure in Hong Kong’s ongoing protests was sent to hospital and discharged following an assault on Tuesday morning.
Roy Kwong Chun-yu, 36, was ambushed by four individuals – including one filming the assault – in a car park in Tin Shui Wai at around 10am, according to the Democratic Party, which he is a member of.
The government later condemned the attack and said police would follow up on the case.
Kwong gave a short account of the incident after being discharged from Tin Shui Wai Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
“When I got into the car, I was dragged away by a masked man,” Kwong said, adding that he was going to drive to the Legislative Council for work.
“I was beaten by three men – punching and kicking me – what was unusual was that a fourth person was filming the whole process with a phone,” Kwong said.
The attack lasted about one minute and ended after one man kicked his neck from behind, according to Kwong.
The lawmaker said he was still in pain but vowed to continue his work.
“If protecting Hongkongers, students and the public means you should be assaulted, this is an international scandal,” Kwong said.
He also said people should not let hatred blind them.
In recent months, Kwong has been active in the protests as a mediator between demonstrators and police.
The incident, which happened on Tin Yip Road, has been logged by police as a case of “assault and person injured”.
After visiting Kwong, Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai called on supporters to exercise restraint.
“Even after Roy Kwong being attacked, we hope friends in the social movement can handle this calmly,” Wu said.
He added that people should express their views in a peaceful manner, rather than using violence against those of different political beliefs.
The police had also taken a statement about the alleged attack, he said.
Speaking outside the Legislative Council, fellow Democrats Lam Cheuk-ting and James To Kun-sun said the attack was coordinated.
Lam said Kwong was on the way to his car when three individuals ganged up on him, including one who was filming the attack.
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“Kwong told me he was punched and kicked,” Lam said, adding that he was told the alleged assaulters were not armed.
Lam noted that Kwong was not the first pro-democracy figure attacked in recent months.
In late August, Civil Human Rights Front convenor Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit and his assistant Law Kwok-wai were attacked with a baseball bat and a rod by two people in the Kowloon neighbourhood of Jordan.
And Isaac Cheng Ka-long, vice-chairman of Demosisto, was assaulted by three men on September 2 on his way home in Tai Wai.
Lam said the attack on Kwong was intended to send a message to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp and participants in the ongoing protests.
In a short statement on Tuesday evening, the Hong Kong government said it “strongly condemns” the assault. “Police will follow up seriously, to bring those responsible to justice.”
The government also said it would treat all illegal and violent acts impartially and urged people to express their views in a peaceful and rational manner.
Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen also strongly condemned the attack as he called on Hongkongers to resolve the impasse through rational dialogue.
Meanwhile, To wondered if the attack had been commissioned by a third party, saying it was uncommon for perpetrators to film their crimes.
“Normally if you attack someone, you would leave after the assault, for fear of leaving evidence behind,” To said.
He added that the video might have been meant to be circulated, or to serve as evidence that the job had been done.
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He called for members of the public with information related to the assault to come forward.
To noted that Kwong was the “most popular” lawmaker by number of votes, having garnered 491,667 in the District Council (second) Functional Constituency in 2016.
“Beating up the most popular legislator sends an alarming signal to Hong Kong and the whole world that Hong Kong is no longer a place with the rule of law,” he said.
The New People’s Party, led by pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, condemned the attack on Kwong.
A statement by the party said illegal or violent acts should not be tolerated.
“The New People’s Party urges all sectors of society to act in restraint, to stop violent acts and tolerate people with different views,” it said.
