‘Negligent’ police strategy during Hong Kong protests sacrificed force morale and image, say frontline officers, while others praise restrained approach
- Tolerant approach a ‘PR show’ after police accused of using excessive force during an earlier protest, senior officer says
- Demonstrators attacked legislature’s doors and windows with metal bars for about eight hours while about 1,000 officers stood guard inside
Police restraint as protesters rampaged through Hong Kong’s legislature on Monday earned praise for avoiding bloody clashes but others, including frontline officers, called it “negligence” that sacrificed force morale and the rule of law the city takes pride in.
“If someone breaks the law, we, as police officers, must deal with it as fast as possible. It is a simple logic,” a senior officer said, on condition of anonymity.
Protesters against a contentious extradition bill stormed the Legislative Council in Admiralty for more than 11 hours, including a three-hour rampage inside the building that left a trail of damage.
A clearance operation began at midnight, during which 3,000 officers dispersed thousands of protesters inside and outside Legco within an hour.
The officer said the inaction was “negligence” in policing work.
“Protesters were deliberately allowed to ram the glass doors and windows of Legco in front of cameras and television crews for hours because no action was taken to stop them,” he said.