Five Arrested For Assault, One Over Lack Of ID

The police say they arrested six people on Sunday in connection with the anti-extradition rally in Kowloon and the late night standoff that occurred between officers and some protesters in Mong Kok.

In a note, the police said one person was arrested for failing to produce proof of identity during the rally, while five were held later on suspicion of assaulting police and obstructing officers in the execution of their duties.

The note said the force took action from 11pm to clear protesters who had occupied roads.

"From 9pm, protesters occupied northbound [lanes] of Nathan Road, passing through Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Yau Ma Tei and arrived [in] Mong Kok. Police set up cordon lines at the junction of Nathan Road and Argyle Street [and made] repeated warnings to the protesters that they were participating in an unlawful assembly [and] police would take actions to disperse the crowd," it said.

The statement also said the mass rally – which police had earlier estimated had 58,000 people at its peak while organisers said 230,000 – "was generally peaceful and orderly".

"It is the policy of the police to facilitate all peaceful public events while at the same time ensuring public safety and public order. The police strongly condemn the illegal acts of protesters for blocking the roads," the statement concluded.

In a statement, the government also expressed regret over the occupation of roads in Mong Kok by some protesters.

A spokesman said the standoff with police had blocked traffic, disrupted commercial activities and caused inconvenience to the public. The statement added that an earlier march to the West Kowloon express rail terminus on Sunday afternoon was largely peaceful.

It said various government departments and the MTR Corporation had worked together to minimise the impact of the march on passengers who had to use the station.