2,000 Hong Kong police ready round the clock as protests over Beijing’s ruling on Basic Law loom
Post learns force’s manpower enhanced after violent clashes overnight and additional concern following central government review of Legco oath saga
Some 2,000 police officers will be deployed round the clock this week to handle possible chaos following violence early yesterday and as at least two more protests loom in light of Beijing’s interpretation of the Basic Law over the taking of Legislative Council oaths.
Force insiders told the Post that police have boosted manpower in response to any incident caused by demonstrators during protests.
The preparations follow a tense overnight stand-off between police and protesters against Beijing’s intervention in the oath controversy.
Clashes outside the central government’s liaison office resulted in the arrest of two men and a woman aged 39 to 65 for allegedly obstructing officers in the execution of their duties. Another person was held for failing to produce proof of identity.
A new anti-riot weapon – a pepper-ball gun, which is still on trial – was seen for the first time during the chaos, but the new weapon was not used, according to police sources.