Govt Apologises Over Yuen Long Police Response

The government on Friday apologised for the police's poor handling of last weekend's Yuen Long attacks that left 45 people in hospital, some with serious injuries.

The city's number two official, Matthew Cheung, said a review is underway aimed at preventing a repeat of the shocking scenes, which saw men in white t-shirts attacking people inside the town's MTR station on Sunday night with poles, rods and sticks.

The police have been widely criticised over their response to the violence, with victims questioning why it took more than half an hour for officers to respond to calls for help, and why men suspected of being involved in the attacks were not arrested later that night.

Cheung was asked by reporters if the government would now reconsider calls to set up an independent commission of inquiry.

"We are engaged now, if I put it rightly, in a reflective process on the whole issue, put it this way. But our position has been explained clearly that we believe it's better to be pursued through the existing mechanism," he replied.

An inquiry into allegations of police brutality during clashes with protesters on June 12 is one of the several demands of protesters, with another being the complete withdrawal of the extradition law bill.

But the administration has repeatedly stated that claims of wrongdoing against officers can be handled by the force's internal complaints unit and the Independent Police Complaints Council.

Cheung also urged people not to try to hold a protest on Saturday over the attacks in Yuen Long, now that the police have objected to the march planned.

He warned that any demonstration in the town would be illegal.