Police Deny Claims Of Yuen Long Pepper Ball Shooting

Police have denied firing pepper balls at a man at close range in Yuen Long on Tuesday night.

Officers were out in force to disperse people marking the anniversary of thugs rampaging the town's MTR station to beat up passengers.

In a Facebook post, the force disputed the claim from "a person who plans to run for Legco" that officers shot at the man's head from just inches away in Yau San Street.

The police said officers were only aiming at a pavilion some 10 metres away to try to disperse a group of people chanting slogans. The police expressed outrage over the smearing, saying it incited hatred.

They also said by 11pm on Tuesday, 96 people had been ticketed for breaching the public gathering ban.

Police also said they had arrested four males and one female – over charges such as breaching the National Security Law, obstructing police officers and breach of curfew bail conditions.