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The Fortune Global Forum has been conducted smoothly in Hong Kong and Police has reached the objective of ensuring the personal safety of its participants, and the Police operation was highly praised by the organisers of the forum, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Cheung Chi-shum, said today (May 10).

Mr Cheung was speaking at a press conference to conclude the security and traffic arrangements for the forum.

"Based on the risk assessment and intelligence gathered, and considerations given to the incidents in similar forums held in foreign countries, Police has set 'high-risk' arrangements for the forum's security measures," he said.

"The arrangements were tight for the forum. However, after considering the numerous untoward incidents in similar forums held in other places, it is necessary for Police to have tight arrangements in order to ensure that the forum proceeded smoothly, to protect the personal safety of the participants, and to facilitate protesters to conduct demonstrations lawfully and peacefully as well.

"In fact, the number of police officers deployed for the forum is comparable to that of any other major events previously held here. Except for the firework display and the horse racing for which more Police officers were deployed for crowd management, the officers on duty at and in the vicinity of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre during the whole forum were not numerous."

Mr Cheung noted that the Police had all along facilitated various groups in staging public meetings and processions to voice their opinions during the forum. Their activities were also widely reported in the media. Police, however, would not accept expression of views in a disorderly and non-peaceful manner.

"Most of the people and bodies voiced their views in a lawful and peaceful manner save one group. This group has all along used its "non-notifying" and "un-cooperative" means and acted stormily to raise its news profile. Though Police expect co-operation from the group, it turns out to be un-cooperative.

Police noticed that individual media organisations had their views on Police operations, but a number of foreign press representatives attending the event did not project negative coverage on Police arrangements.

Mr Cheung felt sorry for the inconvenience caused by Police operations to the members of the public, and he pledged a review of the whole Police operation with a view to making further improvements.

He said: "Police have kept the inconvenience to a minimum and would hope for public understanding and appreciation on the necessity of tight security measures. There are two similar international economic forums to be held later this year, and it is known that certain people has been appealing via Internet website worldwide for demonstrations. By then, however, Police will have appropriate and tight arrangements."

Police Report No. 4

Issued by PPRB

End/ 2315 hours, Thursday, May 10, 2001 (RCH/CC)