Hong Kong authorities police involved in the beating of a pro-democracy protester would be removed from their positions, according to officials, The Associated Press reported.
Police reported arresting 45 protesters and using pepper spray on those who resisted as they cleared a main road in the Chinese-controlled city that had been barricaded with concrete slabs by pro-democracy demonstrators, according to the AP.
In a video released online, several officers are shown beating and kicking a handcuffed protester for several minutes after dragging him to a dark corner next to the protest site, the AP reported. The footage was aired by television broadcaster TVB.
Hong Kong Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok told a news conference police would investigate the suspected use of excessive force and that the officers shown in the video would be temporarily removed from their positions, according to the AP.
Police, without referring to Tsang, said in a statement they had used minimum force, including pepper spray, to disperse protesters who had gathered illegally overnight, the AP reported.
Protesters have been demanding full democracy for the city, according to the AP. They are also calling for its pro-Beijing leader, Leung Chun-ying, to step down.
Alan Leong, leader of Hong Kong's pro-democracy Civic Party, identified the person in the video as Ken Tsang Kin-chiu and said he was a member of the party, the AP reported.
Amnesty International said the police were involved in what appeared to be a "vicious attack against a detained man" and should face justice after photographs showing Tsang with bruising on his face and body were released by democracy activists, according to the AP.
The most recent protests have halted traffic in a four-lane tunnel while chanting student speak out for universal suffrage, the AP reported. The tunnel in the Admiralty district near government headquarters was reopened after police cleared away barriers of concrete slabs.
