Hong Kong police ‘to stay on defensive’ while dealing with radical protesters and will only escalate approach if there is violence or occupation of major roads
- Force understands police community relations have chilled and want to avoid confrontation
- Keeping minimal police presence could help ease the tension, says former police superintendent Clement Lai Ka-chi
Hong Kong police will play a defensive game when dealing with radical protesters despite the extradition bill demonstrations becoming more mobile and widespread, the Post has learned.
A force insider said that unless violence was involved or main traffic arteries occupied, police would not adopt a proactive approach against protesters to avoid unnecessary confrontation.
But a security expert called on all governmental departments to join hands in tackling the current situation instead of throwing police into the ring to fight alone.
“In times of peace, police are worth zero. But in times of need, they are heroes,” said security consultant and former police superintendent Clement Lai Ka-chi.
A series of mass protests against the bill – which would have allowed the transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions Hong Kong did not have an existing agreement with, including mainland China – rocked Hong Kong in June. Peaceful marches on consecutive Sundays were attended by an estimated 1 million and 2 million people respectively, while the police headquarters in Wan Chai was twice sieged by thousands of protesters.