Off-duty Police Add Pepper Spray To Their Armoury

Hong Kong's police officers have been given permission to carry pepper spray when they are not on duty, sources have told RTHK.

The move, which will apply from Tuesday, comes after a weekend that saw a number of attacks against officers, with one allegedly slashed across the neck with a box cutter.

Last month, officers were also told they could start taking batons home with them, in response to the city's anti-government protests.

An internal memo on Monday from an assistant commissioner of police said officers will only be able to carry pepper spray when they are off-duty if they have been trained in how to use it, sources said.

If an officer fires the pepper spray for some reason, they must report this to their immediate supervisor.

Pro-democracy lawmakers have previously warned that arming officers when they are off-duty is likely to exacerbate tensions between the community and the police, and that it could even create further conflicts.