Police had earlier issued a Letter of No Objection regarding a public event held yesterday (December 8) on Hong Kong Island.  Although the event was generally peaceful, acts of breaching public peace happened afterwards. Police express regret over such acts.
         
     Some participants deviated from the approved procession route and occupied part of Gloucester Road and Des Voeux Road Central.  After reaching the finishing point of the procession, a group of protestors occupied Pottinger Street and Des Voeux Road Central, some of them even held weapons in hands. In the evening, some rioters spray-painted the exterior walls of the High Court, threw petrol bombs and set fire outside the High Court and the Court of Final Appeal, damaging government properties and seriously challenging the spirit of the rule of law. A group of violent protestors vandalised shops and banks in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai, completely disregarding law and order.

     Police are duty bound to maintain public safety and public order.  Over the past six months, violent incidents happened in various large-scale protests. The Police Force has always been exercising restraint, tolerance and patience, striving to maintain public order and protect the safety of members of the public. Only when there were violent acts or illegal behaviours which endangered the safety of people at scene, Police would stop them by using the minimum necessary force to prevent the incidents from deteriorating.

     Police have all along respected people’s rights and freedom to express views and facilitated all peaceful public events.  Police appeal to protestors to remain peaceful, rational and non-violent when participating in public events in order to maintain public safety and public order.

 

Ends/Monday, December 9, 2019
Issued at HKT 0:28

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