Police Will Drive Out Darkness Soon: Chris Tang

Police Commissioner Chris Tang hailed his officers for successfully stopping protesters from disrupting proceedings at Legco on Wednesday, saying the day his department will "drive darkness out of Hong Kong" is near.

Police had enforced a watertight security cordon around Legco as lawmakers resumed debate on the national anthem bill to prevent any protests. Over 360 people were arrested in different areas of the city as protest groups still took to the streets against the bill.

Speaking directly to officers through their radios on Wednesday night, Tang said: "Our strategies of early intervention and decisive enforcement were very effective; people returned to work and school without hassle and Legco conducted meetings without interference because of your professional performances."

He said protesters' have wanted to "stage a comeback since Sunday, but what they wanted to do was destined to be futile," and police were able to be one step ahead.

"Your efforts in maintaining law and order for Hong Kong have outshined the rioters. The day the police force drive out darkness for Hong Kong and bring it into brightness will arrive before long," the top police official said.

Critics and opposition parties had criticised the police tactics, saying it had denied people the freedom to expression and made the city resemble a "police state".

Journalists association had also complained about how the media was prevented from reporting at some places while social media was rife with comments about the arrest of some school students who were in their uniforms.