Accessing school premises for Police's execution of duties
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At about 7.30am, Police received reports that some rioters set up barricades with miscellaneous objects at the entrance and exit of Cross Harbour Tunnel on the Hung Hom side to paralyse traffic. Police were deployed to stop their actions. The group of rioters then ran to the footbridge linking to HK Poly U and entered the campus to escape from Police. When Police officers were carrying out arrest action on the footbridge, a large group of rioters suddenly appeared and threw petrol bombs, glass bottles and hard objects at the footbridge from the campus. To protect the safety of the arrested persons and Police officers and to handle the crime scene, Police entered the HK Poly U campus for a short period of time. After using minimum necessary force to conduct dispersal action and safeguard Police cordon line, Police officers left the campus.
At about 7.50am, Police found that a large group of rioters were gathering at a footbridge linking two buildings of CUHK on Biotechnology Avenue and hurling miscellaneous objects at the vehicles driving underneath, seriously threatening the safety of the motorists. Police were therefore deployed to the footbridge and used minimum necessary force to conduct dispersal action. A large group of rioters entered the campus to escape from Police arrest. Police officers later stayed at the footbridge to safeguard Police cordon line and prevent rioters from hurling objects from the footbridge to the vehicles driving underneath again.
Under section 10, section 50 (3) and (4) of the Police Force Ordinance, Chapter 232 of the Laws of Hong Kong, Police have the right to enter any public or private premises, including housing estates, shopping arcades, Mass Transit Railway stations, etc upon reasonable doubt that a criminal offence has occurred.
Police have established procedures and guidelines on accessing school premises. Police will continue to maintain close communication with the institutions to ensure concerted efforts on maintaining law and order in Hong Kong. Police reiterate that no violent behavior will be tolerated. Police will continue to take resolute enforcement action so as to safeguard the city’s public safety and bring all lawbreakers to justice.
Ends/Monday, November 11, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:01
Issued at HKT 16:01
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