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Police had restored order after the disturbances occurred in Wan Chai area this afternoon and would continue with resolute action in dealing with violent demonstrators, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Dick Lee Ming-Kwai,said today (December 17).
ˇ§No other disturbances have been reported in the territory outside Wan Chai. The unlawful activities mainly confined to the Wan Chai area,ˇ¨ he said.
The Commissioner reassures the community of Hong Kong that Hong Kong Police have the determination to bring matters to a peaceful conclusion.
At about 4pm this afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators at the Hung Hing Road Public Cargo Handling Area tried to break the police cordon line and forced a very serious confrontation with the police there. They used bamboo poles and hard objects to attack police officers at the scene, and snatched their shields.
The police discharged fire hoses onto the demonstrators in response to the emotional demonstrators. At around 5 pm, over a thousand demonstrators, who declared their intention to march towards Hung Hing Road, suddenly charged the police cordon line to march along Lockhart Road at the junction of Marsh Road.
A major confrontation ensued, with the protestors attacking police officers with hard objects, iron poles, snatching police batons, helmets, shields, pushing down mills barrier etc. The proestors also repeatedly tried to overturn a police vehicle, but failed.
ˇ§Police officers responded by using the minimum level of force by discharging OC Foam, and using wooden batons against the attacks and violent demonstrators,ˇ¨ Mr Lee said.
The demonstrators then reached Harbour Road to continue their confrontation with police. At about 7 pm, police in the face of escalated and continued violence, increased the level of force commensurate with the situation by discharging powdered pepper grenades and CS Grenades.
ˇ§This was to force the attacking protestors to retreat,ˇ¨ the Commissioner said, adding that at the moment, the majority of the areas in Wan Chai was under our control.
ˇ§We have rounded up about 900 people on Gloucester Road and they will be dealt with in accordance with the law.ˇ¨ Mr Lee said.
ˇ§I'd like to take this opportunity to appeal to members of the public, please stay away from Wanchai area. If you have family or friends in the area, contact them and tell them to immediately leave because Police will be taking all necessary action to restore order,ˇ¨ he added.
Police Report No. 3
Ends/Saturday, December 17, 2005
Issued at HKT 23:55
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