Use Tear Gas, Pepper Spray Sparingly: Pharmacists

The Practising Pharmacists Association of Hong Kong on Wednesday urged the authorities to use tear gas and pepper spray cautiously, warning that the widespread use of such chemical agents to control a crowd could even a pose mortal danger to some innocent bystanders.

This came after the association received more than 50 complaints and enquiries from bystanders who felt unwell as they were affected by the chemicals police used to disperse participants in mass protests in recent weeks.

The association’s president, Iris Chang, said some were people who just passed by the areas involved, or were working in them, and they didn’t take part in the demonstrations.

She noted that the affect of tear gas and pepper spray on healthy people might only be temporary. However, she said, people who are allergic to the substances might faint, have difficulty breathing, or could even die.

She advised police to evacuate shops and citizens nearby before firing tear gas.

She also condemned protesters for using suspected toxic powder to attack the police during the Legco siege on Monday.

“We need to be more rational and cautious in the strategies that we use to control protesters. By being the role model, the government and the Hong Kong police can show the protesters that we don’t use these kinds of agents. And the protesters won’t be using the same type of poisonous materials or chemicals on the police force,” she said.

The association said it will write to the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, and the police chief, Stephen Lo, urging the authorities to use chemical agents sparingly.