'Police Lack Staff To Probe Tuen Mun Complaints'

Police on Tuesday have brushed aside calls from district councillors to curb what residents see as nuisance caused by performers at Tuen Mun Park, just days after thousands of people held a protest there over the issue.

This came as the Tuen Mun district councillors unanimously passed a motion urging the government to scrap the designated entertainment zone at the park.

The protesters had complained that the zone is where women – popularly known as "da-mas" – performed with loudspeakers, engaged in raunchy dance moves and occasionally received money from the audience.

The councillors also wanted the police to do more to curb the practice by arresting those who seek payment from the audience, or are engaged in obscene activities.

However, Deputy Commander of Tuen Mun District, Ngan Yuen-yee, who attended the meeting said the police simply do not have enough manpower to follow up on the complaints because officers have been deployed elsewhere to deal with large-scale demonstrations.

Organisers of the protest last weekend had said 10,000 people took part in the rally to the park while police said 1,800 people were involved at its peak.

Hundreds of protesters then also engaged in an hours-long stand-off with the police, with some also demonstrating outside the Tuen Mun Police Station before dispersing.