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Police respect people’s rights of freedom of expression and facilitate the conduct of all peaceful and orderly public events. Most of the public order events held yesterday (January 1) were conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner. However, some participants at the public meeting held outside the Government House in the evening had breached the law and Police had to take resolute action.
Police had initiated liaison and discussion with the organiser and reached an agreement. The Letter of No Objection clearly stipulated that the public meeting was to be held outside the East Gate of the Government House. Upon arriving there, the organiser suddenly requested to have the public meeting held outside the main gate. With due note of factors such as the narrow pavement, high volume of traffic flow, Police conducted risk assessment and proposed to facilitate the meeting outside the main gate in batches of 30 persons each. However, the organiser refused and insisted to have 100 persons in each batch.
During which time, Police repeatedly appealed to the protestors to express their views in a rational and peaceful manner. Some however ignored the appeals and proceeded to gather at and block the major roads in Central, including Queen’s Road Central, Ice House Street, Garden Road, Des Voeux Road Central and Pedder Street and caused serious traffic obstruction. Their actions not only endangered their own safety but also the safety of other road users. Police had issued warnings repeatedly in various intervals but some protestors still deliberately breached the public order and public peace. Police had no choice but resorted to arrest action in accordance with the law in order to restore public order, public peace and smooth traffic flow.
Police appealed to protestors to express their views in a rational and peaceful manner. Police will not tolerate any acts jeopardizing public order and public safety.
Police condemned the irresponsible and unlawful behaviour of those protestors.
Police Report No. 5
Ends/Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:20
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