Hong Kong police shown in video of alleged beating to be removed from positions - govt

Reuters
A cyclist is pictured near a barricade, which was later removed by the police, on a main road leading to the financial Central district in Hong Kong October 14, 2014. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's secretary for security said on Wednesday that police shown in a video where a pro-democracy protester was allegedly beaten would be removed from their positions as authorities investigate the matter. Lai Tung-kwok was speaking after the video went viral, sparking outrage among the public and lawmakers. Police arrested 45 pro-democracy protesters while clearing a major road in the early hours of Wednesday. Civic Party leader Alan Leong said the person in the video was a member of his party and demanded the officers involved step down immediately. (Reporting By Yimou Lee and Donny Kwok; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Dean Yates)