Police Warn Protesters Over Prince Edward Gathering

The police maintained a heavy presence outside Prince Edward MTR station on Thursday evening in an apparent attempt to stop people from gathering to mark eight months since riot officers stormed the station to arrest anti-government protesters.

Officers repeatedly broadcast messages warning that anyone who stayed in the area risked violating anti-coroanvirus measures that ban social gatherings of more than four people.

Several pro-democracy district councilors stood in front of the officers, who were clad in riot gear, to help collect white flowers from people to put in cardboard boxes.

Yau Tsim Mong Councillor Owan Li said: "They tried to use the Cap: 599 [laws] to say we are not allowed to stay together with four people, and this is only the tool to prohibit anyone coming together, and they're not allowed to do so.

"I don't think it is suitable and appropriate because we supposedly have the freedom, we should not be prohibited by this so-called emergency regulation and law."

Elsewhere in Tin Shui Wai, there was also a "sing-with-you" protest at Fortune Kingswood mall to mark the August 31 incident.

Protesters chanted slogans and unfurled a banner that read "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our time". But around a dozen police officers later arrived and appealed to people to leave, again cititing the social distancing rule.

Outside the mall, officers dispersed people from a nearby park. Police appeared to hand on-the-spot fines for breaching distancing rules to a small number of people

The incident on August 31 was one of the most controversial police actions during the anti-government protests, when riot officers stormed a train and deployed pepper spray and used batons on passengers before detaining several protesters.

Reporters and first-aid workers were ordered to leave the scene, and rumours began to spread about what happened during the operation. Officials said seven people were injured during the violence but protesters dispute this.

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