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Police chief praises officers on 100th day of protests while association warns those attacked with petrol bombs could fire live ammunition at radical protesters

South China Morning Post

發布於 2019年09月17日00:09 • Clifford Lo and Alvin Lum
  • Junior Police Officers’ Association issues statement on 100th day of anti-government protests sparked by now-withdrawn extradition bill
  • Commissioner Stephen Lo gives full support to officers, thanking them for their professionalism during ‘challenging and difficult times’
A protester lights a petrol bomb before throwing it at police stationed outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on Sunday. Photo: AFP
A protester lights a petrol bomb before throwing it at police stationed outside government headquarters in Hong Kong on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong's police chief commended his officers on Monday for their bravery and unswerving determination over the past 100 days of protest crisis as the force's biggest association warned that members could fire live rounds at radicals who attack them with petrol bombs.

The warning by the Junior Police Officers' Association came after more than 10 black-clad protesters hurled at least three firebombs at two traffic policemen in Wan Chai on Sunday, when 55 people were arrested.

The two officers drew their revolvers in response to the attack, the fourth time police had done so since protests broke out in early June, sparked by the government's now-shelved extradition bill. No rounds were fired unlike in two of the previous incidents when officers shot skywards as a warning.

The latest skirmish took place under the Marsh Road Flyover in Gloucester Road, Wan Chai at about 5.45pm on Sunday, when a superintendent and a constable of the Hong Kong Island traffic unit were escorting a fleet of police vehicles.

In a video circulating online, two traffic policemen draw their guns as a warning after at least three petrol bombs were hurled at them by more than 10 black-clad protesters under the Marsh Road flyover in Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, on Sunday pic.twitter.com/FbJfHYL9nh

" SCMP Hong Kong (@SCMPHongKong) September 16, 2019

Sunday began with an illegal but peaceful march that descended into violence as the city marked the 15th weekend of consecutive protests. Since the movement began 100 days ago with a mass demonstration on June 9, 1,453 people " 1,173 men and 280 women " aged between 12 and 72 have been arrested for various offences during marches, rallies, demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police.

The demonstrations have morphed into a wider anti-government movement seeking universal suffrage and an independent probe against police, among other demands. Protesters have resorted to more radical methods to get attention, such as vandalising railway stations, and throwing an increasing number of petrol bombs, including 80 on Sunday, according to police.

In response, police have fired at least 2,414 rounds of tear gas, according to a Post tally, along with more than 500 rubber bullets and at least 59 beanbag rounds.

Amid the 100 days of unrest, Moody's on Monday downgraded its outlook on Hong Kong from stable to negative, warning of the risk of erosion in the city's institutional strengths, but maintained its current sovereign credit rating, unlike Fitch Ratings which took it down a notch.

At a police press conference, the force condemned Sunday's violence and explained the officers' decision to draw their guns. "At least three petrol bombs were thrown at them, which is effectively life-threatening," police publicity head John Tse Chun-chung said. "So the officers pulled out their revolvers, and the move was required and needed."

The incident happened about 45 minutes after a 49-year-old man was reportedly beaten unconscious by a group of protesters outside the nearby Sun's Group Centre. He was sent to Queen Mary Hospital in critical condition before improving to "serious" status.

Lam Chi-wai (centre), chairman of the Junior Police Officers' Association, at a press conference on August 29. Photo: Dickson Lee
Lam Chi-wai (centre), chairman of the Junior Police Officers' Association, at a press conference on August 29. Photo: Dickson Lee

The two attacks happened after a huge crowd of anti-government protesters defied a police ban on Sunday to take to the streets and march from Causeway Bay to Central. The march later descended into violence in various parts of Hong Kong Island.

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Officers fired 32 rounds of tear gas, 11 rubber bullets and 12 sponge-tipped rounds that day.

The Junior Police Officers' Association, which represents 80 per cent of the 31,000-strong force, issued a statement on Monday condemning violent acts by rioters which put officers and residents in danger.

"I must remind those irrational rioters that the petrol bombs they used are lethal weapons," the association's chairman Lam Chi-wai said in the statement.

Petrol bombs and other projectiles are thrown at government headquarters on Sunday. Photo: Dickson Lee
Petrol bombs and other projectiles are thrown at government headquarters on Sunday. Photo: Dickson Lee

"When rioters raise a petrol bomb to throw it, officers on the ground are likely to treat this as a life-threatening attack on our officers and others, and resort to the use of commensurate force and weapons to stop them, including firearms with live ammunition."

The association also urged its members to consider the use of reasonable and appropriate force to protect their safety and that of others when faced with such situations.

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"If they find lives under threat during an emergency situation, they should be decisive in using appropriate and reasonable force or weapons," it said.

It added that according to police guidelines on the use of force, officers can use a higher level of force than that of their adversaries.

Superintendent Fang Chi-kin of the police's operation branch struck a careful note of support in the use of firearms in times of grave danger, but refrained from making a general assessment as spelt out by the association.

"I won't comment on whether firearms will be used whenever petrol bombs are deployed. I trust our frontline colleagues will make a restrained decision based on professional judgment corresponding to the situation," Fang said.

But pressure group Civil Rights Observer warned that Lam's remarks could create confusion among frontline officers, urging both the force and protesters to exercise restraint.

"Police can only use (weapons) when their own or the lives of others are under imminent threat that cannot be handled by a lower level of force, while any wrongful or unlawful use of force could attract criminal liability," the group said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung issued a message to officers on Monday saying that "looking back, we together have experienced the most unforgettable 100 days in our police careers, and I believe the past 100 days should be well remembered in the force's history".

Protesters hurl petrol bombs at a police water cannon truck during clashes on Sunday. Photo: Handout
Protesters hurl petrol bombs at a police water cannon truck during clashes on Sunday. Photo: Handout

He added that "all these lawless and selfish acts" had seriously ruined the rule of law and plunged Hong Kong into chaos and disorder.

"I fully understand the extreme danger and the tremendous stress that each and every one of us has been under over the past 100 days," the police chief said.

But he reassured officers that they were not alone, as he and management would provide them with support on every front.

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He also expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to every member of the force for what he said were the high levels of professionalism, strong sense of mission and responsibility, bravery and unswerving determination they had displayed during "one of the most challenging and difficult times for Hong Kong".

Lo added: "Our community is depending on us to steadfastly uphold law and order without fear or favour and we will never shy away from this task."

While the drawing of revolvers caused concern, police actions in two other locations on Sunday provoked criticism that they were slow to arrest local residents involved in attacks.

On Sunday evening, confrontations between protesters and rival groups of residents rocked the neighbourhoods of Fortress Hill and North Point. At least two local residents allegedly involved in two separate rows with protesters were beaten up, requiring hospital treatment.

"We are not asking police to stop all confrontations, but not when incidents happen right in their faces," Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting said. "Officers should intervene immediately when scuffles happen and arrest attackers, by using the same standard on young protesters."

The Hong Kong Journalists Association also condemned police for not stopping or arresting those who attacked journalists or hit media cameras, including two men who " according to the association " spoke in Fukien accents. But police said the two men accused of hitting journalists were later arrested for common assault.

The force also denied any bias in making arrests, noting seven "local residents" in North Point were among the 29 arrested on Sunday for unlawful assembly and fighting in public, among other offences.

It said the priority in massive confrontations was to separate rival groups and not to have the fights deteriorate further.

"No action taken at the scene by officers doesn't mean there won't be an investigation or arrest in future," Tse, head of police public relations, said.

Copyright (c) 2019. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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