Second Hong Kong customs officer arrested over protest-related offence, bringing tally of disciplinary services staff detained amid unrest to four
- Analyst says young ages of suspects shows a generational gap in political views between younger and older civil servants
- Two others detained were immigration workers in separate incidents
A Hong Kong customs officer was arrested for unlawful assembly in an anti-government protest, bringing the total number of disciplinary services staff detained over the ongoing civil unrest in the city to four, the Post has learned.
According to updated police figures obtained, the force fired a total of 3,035 rounds of tear gas during dispersal operations between June 9 and August 31 – an average of 36 a day. Officers also fired 558 rubber bullets, 49 beanbag rounds and 277 sponge-tipped rounds in this period.
The arrested customs officer, surnamed Lam, 25, was among two men and one woman detained by riot police outside Harbourview Horizon on Hung Lok Road, Hung Hom at about 11pm last Friday.
Police were called in at about 8.30pm that night as a group of black-clad protesters had gathered on the nearby street where an officer was holding a wedding banquet inside the complex.
The force launched a clearance operation at about 11pm as protesters ignored repeated police warnings and refused to leave.
The three suspects were arrested over unlawful assembly in the operation. They were released on bail pending further investigation.