More people are coming out to accuse Hong Kong police of sexual assault they say happened during last year’s pro-democracy protests.
Similar allegations have been circulating since the start of the protest, but few have spoken out for fear of retaliation.
But that’s starting to change. In a newly published video, victims are asking the world to stand up against what they call “The raping of Hong Kong.”
“I felt helpless and no lawyer was there to protect me. I did not know how long the ordeal would last. And if this ordeal would happen to me again,” an alleged victim said.
Sonia Ng is a student from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The 25-year-old used her real name to make the allegation last October.
“To this very day, I’m still traumatized. The memories in the police station and holding center still haunt me,” she said.
“I also started to get nightmares. I don’t want to admit I had an emotional breakdown because of the police’s sexual harassment.”
In a heart-breaking speech on campus, she pleaded with school officials to support the students.
“Every night when I think back about it. I felt so scared. At 2 a.m., the police shouted ‘Do not talk’ and locked my hands behind my back. Then they sent me to San Uk Ling detention center. The search room was completely dark. I didn’t know what would happen.
“After going inside, we were just on their chopping block. They could swear at us if they wanted to. They could beat us up if they wanted to. They could sexually assault us if they wanted to. And I could not defend myself,” Ng said.
Concerns over the assaults made global headlines last year when a 19-year-old woman filed a complaint in October against Hong Kong’s police force. She said she was gang-raped during detention and later discovered she was pregnant.
But last month, Hong Kong’s police commissioner issued orders to arrest the young woman for giving what was called a “false testimony.” She has since fled Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s police force had denied the allegations. But last November, South Korea’s public broadcaster—and one of the area’s biggest television networks—interviewed an anonymous Hong Kong police officer. The policeman said that cases of assaults are not only real, but more widespread than people realize.
“There are at least two cases being investigated, cases where protesters were raped, which were also verified by medics.
“There are actually more than two, but at least these two are being investigated. In fact, there are a greater number of cases … such as severely injuring people, and lots of physical abuse,” the officer said.
A Hong Kong organization conducted a questionnaire last winter. Almost 70 responses were received—all of them alleging sexual assault during the protests. Nearly half of them decided not to report it because the perpetrators are police or other law enforcement staff.
There’s widespread suspicion among protesters that some of the police are not local law enforcement, but police sent from mainland China. The victims voiced concern over Beijing’s increasing crackdown on Hong Kong and asked the United States for help.
“We appeal to you, America, the leader of the free world.
“We, the youth of Hong Kong, are the frontline of your battle against Communism. We have done everything we can. And now we need your help.
“Please stand with us, and we will light the way, for a new China to come into the world.
“Sanction all perpetrators and remove the Communist Party from Hong Kong once and for all.
“We are calling for your help.”