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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose SK Lee, in response to media questions about security issues related to the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Conference after attending the Legislative Council meeting today (December 14):
Secretary for Security: We can all see our police officers handled yesterday's demonstrations with a high degree of professionalism and a high degree of tolerance. It was only when the demonstrators had done something irrational that our police officers reacted with a minimum use of force. We respect the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly in Hong Kong. But we will not tolerate any threat or use of violence in expressing their views. I have full confidence in our police officers in maintaining Hong Kong's law and order. I also wish to appeal to the demonstrators that they should not resort to violence and they should use non-violent methods to express their views and to respect Hong Kong's tradition for peaceful and orderly assembly.
Reporter: ...any intelligence to show that the demonstrators will have more violent acts...?
Secretary for Security: I would not guess the operational needs or intelligence sources of police officers. But I wish to emphasise that the demonstrators should not resort to violent means to express their views.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:14
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