Hong Kong's police used to be the best, most professional force in Asia. I don't know what changed, or why. But I do know they are no longer Asia's Finest. The appalling lapses of professionalism shown in this video illustrate some of the reasons many Hong Kong people no longer trust or respect the force.

I had always scrupulously avoided saying the force as a whole was bad. But after last week's overtly political rally of 20,000+ officers in support of seven men convicted of (the videotaped) beating of a handcuffed suspect, I can no longer in good conscience make the distinction. There is something seriously, systemically wrong with Hong Kong's police, and it needs to be fixed.

For anyone who wants to take the cheap shot about how I couldn't do their job; this video shows that a number of people who have the job can't do it.