Shooting Of Student Justified: Pro-govt Lawmakers

Pro-establishment lawmakers have defended the police over the shooting of a student, saying the officer was provoked and attacked before the policeman discharged his gun.

DAB lawmaker Gary Chan said it was legal and reasonable action by the officer.

He was speaking in Beijing on Wednesday as a group of pro-government lawmakers strongly condemned the "radical and violent" protesters who committed violent acts on the National Day.

The lawmakers said their "illegal acts" were a serious affront to the dignity of the country and the Chinese people and have put people's safety at risk.

The lawmakers said they firmly supports the police to put an end to the chaos, and urged the public not to tolerate or sympathise with any violent acts.

Chan said the government should now consider all means to defuse the crisis and bring peace back to society, including invoking emergency laws and passing laws to ban people from wearing masks in public gatherings.

His party colleague, lawmaker Elizabeth Quat, also accused some pro-democracy lawmakers of smearing the police in saying that they attempted to murder the protesters by firing live rounds.

She said they didn't mention the fact that the officers only opened fire when they were being attacked by the protesters and that their action was to protect their lives and their colleagues.