Hospital Chief Demands Police Return To A&E Wards

Hospital Authority chief executive Leung Pak-yin said on Thursday that he understands why police have withdrawn from their posts at two public hospitals, as emotions run high amid the ongoing extradition bill crisis, but they must swiftly return.

Leung admitted that he had noticed a tense relationship between his staff and the police in recent days. But he added that occasional "chaotic" situations in accident and emergency wards means a police presence is essential.

The force abruptly pulled out of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Yan Chai Hospital on Wednesday, with Police Commissioner Stephen Lo complaining that his officers had been subjected to verbal abuse by medical staff.

Tensions have been high since officers arrested people injured in an extradition bill protest on June 12 that had descended into violence.

Hospital staff claim that officers harassed them into providing information on injured protesters and even eavesdropped on private conversations between medical workers and patients.

Leung said that at talks with the police arranged for Friday, the authority would demand that the force continue to post officers at A&E departments.

"Of course, they need to be stationed there. Sometimes, in our A&E departments there are a lot of chaotic situations. There may be psychiatric patients, family conflicts, fights... all sorts of things can happen in A&E," he said.

He added that when such situations arise, the police do "a lot of good work to alleviate the anxiety of our colleagues and also patients in waiting areas".