Tear gas fired in Kwai Fong station: Hong Kong police told by MTR Corporation to think of public safety after unprecedented indoor deployment during protest
- Rail bosses call on police to consider welfare of passengers and staff when mounting operations inside MTR network
- The riot control agent was released inside a station for first time as protests raged across Hong Kong for much of Sunday
Kwai Fong MTR station had reopened on Monday morning – just hours after its ground-level concourse was filled with the irritant smoke – and was packed with commuters and other passengers.
Services were operating normally despite some traces of the intense violence still visible in the station, which sits on the Tsuen Wan line.
Some white powder was smeared on the floor while columns outside the station were turned into Lennon Walls, makeshift boards where protesters attach messages in support of the movement sparked by the now-shelved extradition bill.
In a statement, MTR Corporation said it was “very regretful” the safety of passengers and its staff had been put at risk when police fired rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets.
The company said it condemned the violence, also referring to protesters abusing fire extinguishers and damaging facilities.
“Since there were passengers and MTR staff in the station, the actions and operation were threatening their safety,” the statement read.
