Hong Kong police criticised over close-range use of pepper spray but force insiders say weapon has to target people’s faces to be effective
- Several protesters and journalists were seen being sprayed in the face during protests in Central and Mong Kok
- Defending use of irritant, police source says people at an unlawful assembly are already taking part in a crime
Hong Kong police were criticised on Friday for pepper-spraying protesters and journalists at close range in recent dispersal operations, but force insiders defended officers’ actions, saying faces were targeted to ensure the weapon was effective.
Several protesters and journalists were seen being pepper-sprayed in the face during protests in Central and Mong Kok on Thursday, although most did not present a physical threat to officers.
The Force Procedures Manual was revised earlier this year, allowing officers to use “hard hand techniques” that include tear gas and pepper spray when dealing with “physical assault to cause or likely to cause bodily injury” and “defensive resistance”.
Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor director Law Yuk-kai accused police of considering protesters’ questions and criticisms a “challenge to their authority” and silencing them with pepper spray.