Hong Kong: Top cop caught in unlicensed massage parlour raid

A senior officer in Hong Kong police's National Security Department has been placed on leave after he was caught in a raid on an unlicensed massage parlour, say local media reports.

Reports have named him as Director of National Security Frederic Choi.

According to news site SCMP, visiting an unlicensed parlour is not an offence but could "damage the force's image".

This is the first big scandal to hit the unit after it was set up to enforce the city's national security law.

Thousands in Hong Kong protested last June when the national security law was implemented.

The law criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces with the maximum sentence life in prison.

However, Beijing has said it will target "sedition" and bring stability. Since the law was enacted around 100 people - including prominent pro-democracy activists - have been arrested. Hong Kong police told BBC Chinese in a statement that they were investigating "an allegation of misconduct by a police officer", adding that the person involved had been placed on leave while the investigation continues. "The police attach great importance to the conduct of police officers... [we] will conduct a fair investigation," it added, though it declined to give further details on the incident or name the person involved.