Hong Kong protests: police to send negotiators and psychologists to PolyU to convince holdouts to come out
- Police promise protesters will not be arrested on the spot and will be treated similar to minors
- Earlier in the day, university released three statements urging government to arrange for immediate departure of ‘dozens’ as campus is in ‘utter chaos’
Police will enter Polytechnic University for the first time since cordoning off the campus on November 17 after violent clashes with masked radicals, as part of a team to persuade the last protesters remaining inside to leave.
There will be no arrests on the spot, and those who need medical treatment will receive it.
The concession was made late on Monday, after PolyU top brass appealed for an end to the police blockade, amid growing concern about the health and mental well-being of those holding out there.
Chief Superintendent Ho Yun-sing, district commander of Yau Tsim District, said: “We will go to Polytechnic University to persuade those who are still inside the campus to leave as soon as possible.”
He said the force had assembled a team comprising school principals, scholars, former members of the Independent Police Complaints Council, social workers, clinical psychologists, members of suicide prevention groups, ambulance and fire services personnel, and police negotiators.
“The members of the force will go to the campus to negotiate and not to arrest. Do not misunderstand us,” he said.