Hong Kong Police with the Protesters. Photo Doc. Hong Kong Free Press

Hong Kong Police Slams Protesters as “Illegal and Irrational"

Zahara Sakinah Abdullah
Politics & Economic
International
Jun 22, 2019
2378
The ongoing protest in Hong Kong has sparked another controversy. Following millions of Hong Kong citizens marched this month to oppose a proposed law that would have allowed extraditions to the Chinese mainland, recently, thousands of protesters blockaded the police headquarters throughout Friday and into the small hours of Saturday morning, the latest manifestation of angry demonstrations sweeping the city.
As the result, Hong Kong police slammed anti-government protesters for besieging their headquarters, calling the demonstration "illegal and irrational" as they vowed to pursue the ringleaders.

The city’s police stated in a statement of how police have shown the greatest tolerance of protesters who assembled outside PHQ (police headquarters). However, the protesters means of expressing views has become illegal, irrational and unreasonable, according to their point of view. The police has stated that the institution will follow the case up.

Before the incident took place, the protestors have already been dealing with tear gas and rubber bullets last week used by the officers to clear protesters during a massive demonstration outside the city's parliament, which sparking widespread anger against the police force. Police have defended using tear gas and rubber bullets on 12 June as a necessary and proportionate response to meet violent protesters who were trying to break into the city's parliament.

Currently, the demonstrations have since morphed into a wider movement against Lam's administration and party leaders in Beijing after years of sliding political freedoms. Police have also become the target of anger. During Friday's demonstrations outside their headquarters, large crowds of protesters blockaded entrances, taped over CCTV cameras and shouted at police. Many chanted "release the righteous" and "shame on police thugs" - references to those detained during violence last week between demonstrators and the police. Officers remained inside their fortified building throughout.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-police-slam--illegal--irrational--hq-protest-11651388