Police condemn protestors breaching public peace
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The protestors then gathered outside Mong Kok Police Station, aimed laser beams and hurled objects at police officers. Traffic was also seriously obstructed after they blocked roads by miscellaneous objects.
Police began dispersal operation at around 7pm after repeated warnings issued to the protestors gathered in Mong Kok went futile.
At around 7.30pm, a large group of protestors gathered on a footbridge near Mong Kok Road. They hurled an iron bucket, a litter container and miscellaneous objects at police officers and police vehicles under the footbridge. Police officers issued immediate but futile warnings. An iron bucket and a litter container hit the top of the police vehicle and fell onto the ground, seriously threatening the safety of police officers, members of the public and journalists at scene. To protect members of the public, police officers and everyone at scene from threats to life and serious injuries, a police officer shot a bean bag round at the assailant on the footbridge.
During the protests, Hung Hom, Kowloon City, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station Report Rooms have once suspended services which affected the emergency services to the public.
Police condemn the protestors’ behaviours which breached public peace. While Police respect the rights to express views peacefully and freedom to participate in public meetings and processions, Police also appeal to protestors to take into consideration public safety and public order.
Ends/Sunday, August 18, 2019
Issued at HKT 1:21
Issued at HKT 1:21
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