Police yesterday defended a move to contact the principal of a primary school where a public forum on the anti-subversion laws was held, saying they wanted to ensure the event was held in an orderly manner.
The force was accused of political surveillence after two officers from the Wong Tai Sin Police Community Relations Office visited St Patrick's School in Lok Fu last week before Sunday's forum.
'Our practice is for divisional commanders, on learning of any public meetings to be held in their districts, to make appropriate arrangements in accordance with circumstances of individual cases,' a police spokesman said.
'The arrangements are to ensure that public meetings are held in a safe and orderly fashion.'
The spokesman stressed that the police fully respected people's right to freedom of speech and assembly, adding: 'It is regrettable that this should be taken by some people as interference.'
The school principal, Yuen Kam-chuen, said yesterday the officers had had a brief discussion with him as to whether assistance was required for the forum, such as transport and crowd control arrangements.
