Rally To Back Police Draws 165,000: Organisers

Organisers of a rally at Tamar Park in Admiralty to support the police say 165,000 people took part.

Police estimated the crowd at 50,300 at its peak.

Several high profile figures also joined the demonstration, including deputy director of Beijing's Basic Law Committee, Maria Tam, former police commissioner Tang King-Shing and movie star Tony Leung Ka-Fai.

Tam said police officers had been humiliated in recent weeks, and questioned the motivation of anti-extradition protesters, saying some may be under foreign influence.

Separately, former police chief Tang King-shing said it was heartbreaking to see the recent siege of the police headquarters by protesters.

Tang said people had forgotten the police's achievement in making Hong Kong one of the world's safest cities.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong paid tribute on its Facebook page to the police, saying Hong Kong people should be proud of their professionalism.

Members of the crowd vented their anger at the media, with some protesters accusing RTHK journalists of bias.