Police Call For Calm As Headquarters Is Surrounded

Police have issued an appeal to the protesters to "express their views in a peaceful and rational manner" as hundreds of anti-extradition bill demonstrators circled their headquarters in Wan Chai.

After hundreds blocked the complex, negotiators were sent out to the protest leaders to calm the situation. But the crowd booed and continued to chant for the release of all protesters. The negotiators soon retreated back into the building.

This came as protests escalated on Friday and hundreds of people who had earlier gathered at Legco moved to Wan Chai, following a call by Demosisto leader Joshua Wong.

Addressing the crowd, Wong said the police should stop classifying June 12 clashes as a riot and demanded that Police Commissioner Stephen Lo come out and meet the protesters.

Lawmaker Roy Kwong, who also addressed the protesters, called on them to protect their safety as they were in police's own backyard.

Earlier a group of policemen who were outside the complex withdrew after a tense but brief standoff with protesters calling for the release of all those arrested and demanding talks with the police chief.

The police, meanwhile, condemned the obstruction of Harcourt Road and other areas in Admiralty and appealed to motorists to stay away from the area.

Senior Superintendent Yolanda Yu also warned that protesters surrounding the headquarters will seriously affect emergency services provided by the force, adding that police negotiators will be deployed to assist people to leave the area.

She also urged the protesters to stay safe.

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