'Thousands' of police to take to Hong Kong streets for New Year celebrations

The city's first post-Occupy New Year celebrations tomorrow are expected to be marked by a strong police deployment to observe and make "judgments" on distinguishing revellers from pro-democracy protesters.

Police declined to disclose the number of officers that will line up on both sides of Victoria Harbour on New Year's Eve, saying only that it would be "sufficient".

But a police source said more than 3,000 would be on duty across the city - about 1,000 more than were deployed over Christmas - mainly because the Victoria Harbour fireworks, which tend to attract bigger crowds.

Officers, most of them from the anti-triad squad, would keep an eye on so-called "shopping" protesters in Mong Kok, the source said, adding that the force would continue its Solar Peak operation, devised to handle the Occupy Central sit-in protests.

Any unlawful activity, such as obstructing the flow of traffic, would be met with necessary and "resolute action", Lee Man-yiu, acting superintendent for traffic control on Hong Kong Island, said yesterday.

"We will do our best to help residents who are welcoming in the New Year," he said. "As to any unlawful acts, police will take resolute enforcement action. Police at the scene will make proper judgments as to whether residents are holding a celebratory event or an illegal act."