Stephen Lo Says Protesters Have 'lost Their Minds'

Police Commissioner Stephen Lo has expressed “the strongest condemnation” against what he called protesters who “lost their minds” during clashes with officers in Sha Tin on Sunday evening.

Lo noted that an officer had part of a finger bitten off by a protester, and several other officers were hit by objects hurled at them, adding protesters were seen continuing to kick and punch officers who fell to the ground.

He said the force will spare no effort in its investigation and follow up “to the very end”.

Lo said that since the beginning of this month, after every rally on a Sunday, “violent protesters” blocked roads, vandalised buildings and attacked officers, and the situation “makes one’s hair stand on end”.

Speaking to reporters early on Monday morning after visiting injured officers at the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po, Lo said officers had been working hard despite being under tremendous pressure – only to be criticised by people from different sectors in return.

“When we mount an operation, they say we abuse our power to make arrests, when we stand back, they say we are setting up a trap,” he said.

When asked why officers had entered the New Town Plaza to round up protesters, Lo asked whether it wasn’t the police’s duty to make arrests if they knew people who had broken the law had gone into the shopping mall.