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Police Power
Independent Police Complaints Council
1. The Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) has become astatutory body since July 2, 1996. In 1997, the Hong Kong Government tabled abill to the Legco aimed at providing a statutory basis for IPCC to define its functions and powers. After several months' examination of the billscommittee of the Legco, the bill was revised to enhance the independence ofIPCC. However, the bill was finally withdrawn by the government before itsthird reading in Legco, for the revised version will "totally changed the function of IPCC". Many critizised such government action is acontempt for the Legislative procedures.
No. of Allegations of Investigation by IPCC from 1994 to 1996
| Nature of Allegation | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
| Assault | 1,786 | 1,600 | |
| Overbearing/ Impolite Conduct/ Abusive Language | 1,047 | 1,189 | |
| Neglect of Duty/ ImproperAction | 525 | 696 | 854 |
| Unnecessary Use of Authority | 343 | 431 | 488 |
| Fabricationof Evidence | 250 | 272 | |
| Threat | 183 | 201 | |
| Other Offences | 40 | 76 | 84 |
| Police Procedures | 6 | 2 | |
| 4,148 | 4,633 | 5,052 |
2. The latest figure released in March 1998 showed that the number of complaints against police officers for neglecting their duties more thandoubled in February 1998 over the same period last year, detailed breakdownof the allegations are as follows,
| Nature of Allegation | Feb 1997 | Feb 1998 |
| Assault | 73 | 58 |
| 53 | ||
| Neglect of Duty | 29 | 67 |
| Fabrication of Evidence | 14 | 12 |
| Total | 197 | 239 |
Imprisonment of four police officers
3. Four police offices, including a women inspector were found guilty of assaulting a drug addict to force a confession. They pouredwater into a 23-year-old man's ears and nose and stuffed a sports shoe in hismouth to make him admit carrying dangerous drugs. He was found to havebruises on his chest, lips, wrists and elbows. The Magistrate describedthe act as a "gross" breach of the trust placed on the police by thepublic. She sentenced the two police officers to six months in prison and theconstables to four months and rejected the request of granting bail todefendants who were to appeal against her findings and ordered the officersto be locked up immediately.