Those 'glory days' — and ongoing dirty political games

The charges of 'excessive brutality' leveled against HK's police force today pale in comparison to those seen during the city's 1967 uprising against British imperialism and colonial rule. A retired police superintendent tells Azam Khan the flames are being fanned by online influencers out to show hatred and hysteria in the community.

Not since the summer of 1967 when a revolt against British colonial rule claimed the lives of 51 protesters and policemen has Hong Kong been rocked by turmoil and riots similar to those of 2019, lingering for months.

Retired superintendent James Elms was a front-line police officer back in 1967.

Protesters arrested back then were subject to beatings when caught and again more back at the station, said Elms. "That was the practice by the colonial force."

Virtually no transparency on the brutality of then-British authority, coupled with a desperate Chinese labor force pushed to the brink with no rights, culminated in a violent summer of 1967.

"I cracked some skulls, fired live rounds and was cornered and beaten up by rioters back then. We did things to imprisoned rioters back at the station, which would horrify society today."

At the age of 77, British national and Eurasian, Elms looks like he could still lace up his retired boots, and keep order on the front lines. Today, he takes a different view of the current situation.

"People talk about the current police being 'brutal' ", he continued. "I mean we were 10 times more brutal under British colonial force in Hong Kong. I know because I was a part of that brutality. At the end of it, we were given the title 'Royal' by Her Majesty's government; not for being brutal but for being steadfast, loyal and courageous. But my young colleagues today are being called brutal after being brutalized themselves. They're being castigated by many, including the British government. Why? China is the common factor. In 1967, we were against China. In 2019, we represent China."