Hong Kong police chief tries to boost morale of under-fire officers

Police chief Andy Tsang Wai-hung has praised his frontline officers for their handling of the Occupy Central protests on Sunday.

In an address to the officers at the central government offices in Tamar yesterday, Tsang, dressed in uniform, said: "There were criticisms and invectives. But I would like to tell you, you have not done anything wrong."

Loud applause could be heard in an 11-second video clip leaked to the media.

The participants were those who had been deployed to respond to the protesters on Sunday, during which 87 rounds of tear gas were fired.

Also at the meeting were Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok. Leung praised the police for their hard work, while Lam said she appreciated the officers faced difficulties and that they were also "victims" of the political situation.

Police were criticised for using excessive force on Sunday. The use of tear gas, in particular, fanned the anger of the people and encouraged more of them to join the street protests.