'Law Should Protect Police As It Does The Courts'

A group which supports the police on Wednesday called on the government to enact laws similar to contempt of court legislation, to protect police officers from becoming the target of insults.

About 20 members of the Treasure Group, who marched from Admiralty Centre to the Central Government Offices, said the authorities should bring in such laws quickly.

One of them, Sandy Li, condemned anti-extradition protesters who she said had insulted and hurt the police during recent demonstrations.

She said contempt of court rules have protected the judiciary from any insults and disturbances and such laws should also be applied to the police force, as they are also involved in enforcing the law.

The group has written a letter to Security Secretary John Lee, urging the government to enact such laws as soon as possible.

Meanwhile around a dozen supporters, belonging to a group called "Together Heart, Protect Hong Kong", rallied outside the police's headquarters in Wan Chai.

They urged the authorities to quickly arrest the “rioters” involved in clashes during the past month.

Retired police official Johnson Hun who was among the group said he respects protesters who express their opinions peacefully, but said he will not accept any kind of violence.

Hun said young people should stop seeing the police as bad people.

Another member of the group, who said he was a taxi driver, said he was there not to talk about politics, but justice.

He said believes the police have already been tolerant towards the protesters, saying no one has died in the extradition saga, except those who committed suicide.