'Wearing Numbered Tags Common, Not Disrespectful'

Police commissioner Raymond Siu on Saturday said regulations for demonstrations are meant to protect the public - including those taking part - and that he did not think it was disrespectful to require participants to wear numbered tags.

He was responding to a reporter’s question on whether protests are allowed and if participants will need to wear tags.

In a half-hour address marking National Security Education Day last week, Beijing's top official overseeing SAR affairs, Xia Baolong, said demonstrations are not the only way for people to say what they want.

Siu stressed that people in the SAR have the freedom of assembly, but such gatherings must be regulated.

Last month, some 80 demonstrators against land reclamation and development in Tseung Kwan O were told to wear individually numbered tags - a rule that the organiser called "insulting".

In response, the police chief urged people to look at the regulations "rationally".

"In many events in different places - like marathons - runners have numbered tags. So is this disrespectful? I don't think so. What's more, even when I enter and leave police headquarters for work, I wear a warrant card. I don't see any problem with that. I do that even though I'm the police commissioner," he said.

"The purpose [of numbered tags] is to identify people taking part in demonstrations, to let police and organisers identify them. This can not only ensure other people's safety, but also the safety of participants."

On a recent alleged escape of a suspect, Siu said an investigation is underway and the force will look into possibly using technology to avoid similar incidents happening again.

He said police have internal guidelines on handling suspects, and that they took cases of escaping from lawful custody seriously.

In a recent incident, a suspected drug trafficker allegedly escaped detention by switching ID wristbands with another man while the pair were being held in a court cell. Both men have been remanded in custody.