Police Pass The Buck On Clashes Back To Protesters

Police says Sunday’s million-strong march has been proof that as long as protesters don’t resort to “radical acts”, officers would not use force against them.

The officers on Monday passed the blame for violence back to the anti-extradition bill opponents after critics including pro-democracy lawmaker Au Nok-hin, had said Sunday's peaceful mass rally showed that protesters were not the cause of violence.

They accused police caused the violence through "launching tear gas, arresting citizens without purpose and using forces without any control”.

But speaking at a press conference on Monday, John Tse, Chief Superintendent of the Police Public Relations Branch, highlighted restraint on the side of the police.

He said police had shown restraint although a large number of people occupied several main roads, and others used slingshots to target the government headquarters, and pointed laser pointers at officers.

At the briefing officers also denied its risk assessment and a ban on Sunday's march was wrong decisions.

Police had only approved Civil Human Rights Front’s application for rally at the park, and citing recent violence by anti-extradition protesters after marches rejected their application.

On Sunday, more than a million protesters occupied main roads from Victoria Park to Admiralty for hours and there were no violent clashes.

Senior superintendent Kong Wing-cheung from the force's public relations branch insisted officers studied various factor before objecting the march.

“We conduct these risk assessments in a fair manner, not only to protect the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression of our HK citizens,” said Kong.

“We, police, have a very important role to ensure public order and public safety. That’s why we imposed some conditions for the public event,” he said.