The Police Commissioner has defended a decision to ban protests in front of the Central Government Offices (CGO).
Tsang Yam-pui insisted it was only a temporary measure and did not mean that freedom of assembly had been tightened.
His brother, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, also stressed the importance of freedom, saying it was one of Hong Kong's most cherished values and vital to its economic success.
'We must not compromise. Nor should it be destroyed. I don't see there is any risk that the Government will use any means to destroy this economic strength,' he said on Cable TV.
The Police Commissioner said in Beijing that he and the force recognised the importance of freedom of speech, but the ban was being imposed because of problems created by abode claimants.
'This is a rather sensitive period as the right-of-abode seekers have repeatedly created problems during their protests and marches. They also often want to go to the CGO. Thus we don't want to open the CGO area to demonstrators for the time being,' he said.
