Youngsters Used As Political Pawns: Police Chief

The police commissioner, Chris Tang, has described young people arrested during anti-extradition protests as "victims" who are being taken advantage of for political reasons.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the pro-Beijing DAB, Tang said about 40 percent of the more than 8,000 people arrested during the anti-extradition campaign are students.

He said some people, whom he did not identify, had romanticised and made violence heroic and twisted the values of these young people in order to achieve their own objectives.

The police chief slammed these unidentified people for only sacrifice other people's children – but not their own – to serve as “political offering”.

Tang stressed investigations are continuing into many cases, adding that people will be arrested and charged once officers have gathered enough evidence.

However, he said the force may choose not to prosecute some young people who’re involved in less serious crimes.

For those who’ve shown remorse or admit they’ve been exploited, for example, he said the authorities may consider administering a caution under the Police Superintendent’s Discretion Scheme.