Police Tactics In Central Leave Some People Fuming

Hong Kong's central business district again witnessed protests and police action on Wednesday, leaving some people who were in the area angry at officers' tactics.

Some officers – who arrived to disperse the protesters in Central and clear the roads of the bricks and other debris thrown by demonstrators – were seen getting into verbal duels with people who were walking by, and were accused of pointing guns without reason, and at one point chasing down and questioning two girls in school uniform.

The two students said they were just wandering around as their classes ended early when the officers chased them into an alleyway next to Des Voeux Road Central. Both students were released after checks.

The 16-year-olds said they suddenly got cornered by a group of riot officers as they were watching the police carrying out their clearance operation.

One of the students, surnamed Cheng, said they were scared as the fully armed officers surrounded them. Later she told RTHK's Jimmy Choi that she was furious with the police action.

"I feel so angry because we just saw the police. I don't know why they need to do such things to us, so I feel so angry," she said.

The girls said the police warned them that they had already taken photos of the two and they could arrest them if they are seen at an illegal assembly in the future.

The teens said they were also told to take responsibility for their own actions.

Another officer was seen yelling at a young woman even after she removed a mask as requested. One officer shouted that she had taken the mask off too slowly.

A woman who works in the retail sector in Central, meanwhile, said some officers pointed guns at her and others for no reason. The woman, who gave her name as Iris, said this happened when she took refuge in an ATM area after seeing police arrest some passersby who she thought were innocent.

"They were trying to ask us to leave the ATM area and then were using a gun pointed at us. We were so terrified," she said.

The worker also said a blockade by the police made it difficult for her to get back to work. This sentiment was reflected by others who had only stepped out for lunch, with some people shouting at the officers that they wanted to get back to work.

The Central area had also seen protests on the previous two days which led to demonstrators blocking traffic in the area and police firing tear gas on both days to clear them. Many white collar workers were seen joining the anti-government protesters on both days.

Some people who were in the area on those days, and not taking part in the protests, had complained of getting hit by the gas.