Academics Stand By Tear Gas Guidelines Criticism

Chinese University researchers who lamented the lack of health guidelines for people in tear gas-affected areas of Hong Kong have doubled down on their criticism of the government, after Health Secretary Sophia Chan defended her department's response.

Chan had swiped aside the academics' complaint published in the Lancet magazine, saying the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) had given instructions to contract workers cleaning streets where tear gas has been used.

Reacting to the secretary's comments, the academics pointed out that the government has not issued any guidelines for people at large who may be affected by tear gas and it has been used in residential areas.

There were public guidelines issued even for rare avian flu, said Professor Emily Chan, the main author of the criticism.

Speaking to RTHK, Kevin Hung, the assistant professor in emergency medicine at the university, said there is nothing for the general public to understand the possible consequences of inhaling tear gas and how to manage once they are exposed to it.

Hung said this information should be made available to institutions like schools and elderly came home in areas where tear gas had been deployed.