'Police Are Prepared For July 1 Protests'

Senior police officers say they will be ready for a day of protest marking the anniversary of the handover on Monday.

Besides the annual July 1 march in the afternoon, anti-extradition campaigners have put out a call online for people to attempt to block the morning flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.

Superintendent John Tse from the media liaison and communication division said on Saturday that police assessments point to a possible risk to public safety and order on the day.

He says more details of the police's plans will be announced later.

The extra precaution comes after weeks of protests against the government’s extradition bill. On two occasions, protesters had besieged the police headquarters in Wan Chai – with some spraying paint on the walls and over surveillance cameras.

Superintendents’ Association chairman Ronny Chan said the protesters were “insulting and damaging the police logo” and that the protesters' behaviour had nothing to do with their demands.

Chan warned the protesters against resorting to violence, saying officers are “absolutely capable of dispersing them”.