Talks Fail To End Police Force's Hospital Boycott

Police were still refusing to man their posts at two public hospitals on Friday, despite a three-hour meeting with Hospital Authority officials over the "unfair treatment" of frontline officers.

Officers abruptly abandoned their stations in the accident and emergency departments of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Yan Chai Hospital on Wednesday, complaining they had been subjected to verbal abuse by staff.

Tensions have been high since police arrested a number of extradition bill protesters while they were seeking treatment for injuries they suffered when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets during clashes in Admiralty on June 12.

Police Commissioner Stephen Lo had said his officers have since been the victim of "political hatred".

Speaking to reporters after Friday's meeting to try to resolve the force's concerns, Assistant Commissioner Rebecca Lam said they will review incidents involving abuse against officers before deciding the next move.

"Our frontline officers who were stationed in the A&E wards have experienced some unfair treatment from the medical staff," she said.

Lam added that although officers have been withdrawn from their posts in the two hospitals, they will still respond to calls for assistance within the two facilities.

On Thursday, Hospital Authority chief Leung Pak-yin admitted that there has been a tense relationship between police and medical workers since the June 12 clashes, but said the police must be stationed in A&E departments to deal with any "chaotic situations" that arise.