An organisation conducted a public event yesterday (July 7) in which public procession started at 3.30pm from Salisbury Garden and finished at the open area of Wui Man Road outside Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. The organisation announced the event completed at 5.30pm and it was generally peaceful and orderly. During the event, Police arrested one person for failing to produce proof of identity.

     Some protestors then gathered at the vicinity of Canton Road. They even blocked Canton Road around 8pm to 9pm. From 9pm, protestors occupied northbound of Nathan Road, passing through Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Yau Ma Tei and arrived Mong Kok. Police set up cordon line at the junction of Nathan Road and Argyle Street. Police made repeated warnings to the protestors that they were participating in an unlawful assembly and urged them to leave or Police would take actions to disperse the crowd.

     After repeated but futile warnings, Police took actions to disperse the protestors around 11pm. During the process, some protestors resisted and police arrested five persons for assaulting a police officer and obstructing a police officer in the execution of duties.

     Police respect the public’s freedoms of expression, speech and assembly. It is the policy of Police to facilitate all peaceful public events while at the same time ensuring public safety and public order. Police strongly condemn the illegal acts of protestors for blocking the roads.

Ends/Monday, July 8, 2019
Issued at HKT 3:07

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