The Central and Western District Council Traffic and Transport Committee meeting was held this afternoon, requesting the Highways Department, Transport Department, Fire Services Department, Architectural Services Department, Buildings Department and Police to explain the reasons and potential risks of fencing the flyover with barbed wire. Democratic Party Kam Nai-wai and the committee chairman Sam Yip Kam-Lung found that the police officers had not shown the warrant after arrival, so they requested the six suspected plainclothes officers to show their warrant. Sam Yip Kam-Lung asked: “PK Tang showed his warrant when he came to the District Council. When we now request you to show warrant, why you all refuse to show? ”

The District Officer (Central and Western), Mrs. WONG HO Wing Sze, Susanne, JP, supported the police throughout the process, saying that the government had “her own way” to handle the identity of participants and claiming that “Our colleagues don’t need to show their warrant.” Sam pointed out that even if the request was not raised by the chairman but a member of the public, the plainclothes police officers, who were obviously exercising their police power, shall be in accordance with the police’s general regulations and the past requirements of the Supervisory Commission. “It is legitimate to ask police officers to show their warrant.”

However, the plainclothes policewoman who was sitting on the counter with a name badge “Dorothy Nieh, Police Community Relations Officers, Central District”, and the other five plainclothes police officers refused to show their warrant. During the period, Nieh loudly “reminded” the members, saying that according to the conduct guidelines of the District Council Standing Rules, District Council members should not do anything at any time or in any way that jeopardizes or damages their integrity, fairness, objective judgment or ability to perform their duties.

Nieh also criticized Kam Nai-wai was targeting for the Police Force, saying “He left his seat for many times and looked at us. I hope that he do not leave his seat casually”. She also said that the District Officer had verified her identity when she and other police officers entered the meeting room, demanding district council member ” not to deliberately target or dwarf any specific government departments.”

After hearing this, Sam asked Nieh again to show her warrant. Nieh claimed that the plainclothes police officer should show the warrant only when exercising the police power. “We don’t need to show it according to the police regulations. A warrant is only required when contacting the public and exercising police power. Kam Nai-wai immediately questioned, “If you are not exercising police power, who are you representing? Are you a volunteer?” Kam pointed out that the other departments present are willing to follow the rules. “Do you think Police rules everything? If you don’t follow the rules, I will definitely target you! ” He also criticized that Nieh obviously had no understanding of the rules of the district council. She had no idea that members of the council can walk freely in the conference room.

Later, the Democratic Party Fergus Leung Fong-wai pointed out that other staff from different government departments without government employee certificates all showed their name cards to show their identity. However, the police officers did not show any kind of information, and urged Sam as the chairman to handle: “If they still refused to show their name card or warrant within a specific time, may the committee please ask them to leave, so as not to waste any more time. ”

Later, when responding to Sam Yip Kam-Lung’s criticism, Nieh claimed that they did not show warrant today was to “defend the dignity of the Hong Kong Police Force.” “How we become a police officer? It takes a lot of training, selection and a probabtion. During the probation period, we may be assessed and lose the police status. I don’t see how much effort the district council members paid! ”

In the meantime, she also said: “You (Sam Yip Kam-Lung) are authorized by members of the public. You have 3,073 votes from voters, but I hope you don’t forget that 2,487 voters in your constituency did not vote for you”, Nieh said she hoped that DC members would respect the police system. She also pointed out that if Sam Yip Kam-Lung insisted on targeting the police, she could only express regret, making a written complaint and leaving the scene. Later, with the consent of serval individual democrats, Nieh said she was willing to show name card, but still refused to show the warrant.

In his final concluding speech, Sam Yip Kam-Lung reiterated that it was legitimate for the plainclothes police officers present to show their warrant, and said that he was strongly dissatisfied with Nieh’s remarks. He further criticized Nieh’s statement for contempt for the democratic system, saying “If you think it is easy to be elected, please run the election in my constituency!” Nieh later asked to speak again, and without the approval of Sam Yip Kam-Lung, she turned on the microphone by herself, saying that she did not personally attack Sam Yip Kam-Lung and expressed regret that Sam Yip Kam-Lung would not let her speak. In order to show their dissatisfaction, all the plainclothes police officers present left the scene early.

POLICE GENERAL ORDERS CHAPTER 20 Clause 20-14：
2. A police officer shall carry his warrant card on his person at all times provided his intended activities are compatible with its safe keeping. An officer in plain-clothes when dealing with members of the public and exercising his police powers, whether he is on or off duty, shall identify himself and produce his warrant card. At the scene of a crime, officers in plain-clothes shall wear their warrant cards in such a manner that they may be readily identified.

”Laws of Hong Kong” Cap. 232 Police Force Ordinance Section 21
21.Police officer to be deemed on duty
Every police officer shall for the purposes of this Ordinance be deemed to be always on duty when required to act as such and shall perform the duties and exercise the powers granted to him under this Ordinance or any other law at any and every place in Hong Kong where he may be doing duty.

”Laws of Hong Kong” Police (Discipline) Regulations Part I Clause 3:
3. Disciplinary offences
(2)The offences against discipline are—
(c)conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline;
(j)making a statement which is false in a material particular in the course of his duty or in connexion with the discharge by the police force of any of its duties or functions;

Relevant Incident：0313 The Central and Western District Council Traffic and Transport Committee Meeting

Apple Daily （News Report）

The Standnews（News Report）

Facebook（Commentary）

Journesis（Commentary）