A suspected undercover police officer was pepper-sprayed in the face several times by other masked officers on Sunday.
The ordeal only stopped when the suspected undercover officer showed his police warrant card, according to the DB Channel run by students and alumni of the Diocesan Boys’ School.
The injured officer – pictured with a police ID card around his neck – was then helped away from the scene by other black-clad officers. Onlookers cheered as he was escorted away.
DBC【1.5上水即時】
圖中受傷便衣蒙面警員被防暴警員以胡椒噴霧噴面多次，蒙面警員多番大叫「自己人」後無果，然後才展示出委任證，防暴警員才停止使用胡椒噴霧。該名便衣警員神情痛苦，並需要由其他蒙面便衣警員攙扶離開，離開時在場市民大聲歡呼。
攝/N pic.twitter.com/inumqY4tvc
— Panda? (@DCheng36387164) January 5, 2020
Last month, two undercover police officers were apprehended by fellow officers at a protest. The pair were released after revealing their true identities.
The Democratic Party said around 10,000 people marched peacefully on Sunday in Sheung Shui district against cross-border trade.
Demonstrators and residents have long criticised the influx of mainland traders pouring into the community to bulk-buy goods such as baby milk powder to resell in China.
After the march ended, some protesters remained as they chanted slogans. Police raised a blue flag warning and pointed pepper spray canisters at protesters, demanding they leave.
Police said a round of tear gas was used at around 2:40 after a petrol bomb thrown at the local police station. At around 4:15pm, the force surrounded Sheung Shui Centre mall and searched around 50 people. They were made to kneel on the ground and put their hands on their heads.
Dozens of arrests were made, as pepper spray was deployed against several people including the suspected undercover officer.
Large-scale protests have continued for almost seven months. Initially against a now-withdrawn extradition bill, the demonstrations have evolved into sometimes violent displays of dissent against police action, amid calls for democracy and anger over Beijing’s encroachment.
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