The arrested person – known as “Student K” – told reporters on Monday that she was arrested on September 25 last year at Sha Tin MTR station under suspicion of unlawful assembly and assaulting a police officer, reported Hong Kong Free Press.

That night dozens had gathered at New Town Plaza after a man allegedly jumped the turnstiles and was detained by station staff, reported the newspaper.

Student K claimed to the newspaper that a female officer had squeezed her breasts several times and used derogatory language to “harass” her. 

She alleged her requests to use the bathroom were repeatedly denied for more than an hour. 

She told the newspaper that she told an officer she had human rights but they rebuffed her, saying: “Human rights are based on your freedom. You are an arrested person so you do not enjoy that freedom.”

Hong Kong Social Workers’ General Union council member Jackie Chen, who accompanied Student K to the press conference,  described the manner in which she was strip searched as unbelievable.

“We, social workers, have not seen this extent of body searching even in cases to do with drug trafficking… Why would the police force search an underage girl in this way?" Chen was quoted as saying by Hong Kong Free Press.

Police later searched Student K’s home without the presence of her lawyer, according to the teenager.