Hong Kong protests: more than 6,000 officers to handle new year events as police chief vows hardline action against gatherings and lawbreakers
- Organiser of New Year Rally on January 1 calls on people to join march and accuses government of white terror against the education sector
- Police chief, in Facebook video, warns public not to condone or cover up violence
More than 6,000 police officers will be deployed to handle expected protest chaos in Hong Kong over the new year, sources told the Post on Monday, as the force’s chief vowed to ramp up efforts to arrest lawbreakers.
The deployment was revealed as the organiser of a march on New Year’s Day called on people to join and show solidarity, while accusing the government of taking revenge against those who supported the protests.
Insiders said police would take decisive and early action to prevent radicals from gathering in malls, vandalising shops and disrupting diners and restaurants.
One police source said “we will act vigilantly”, in response to an online post calling for shops along the march’s route – from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to Chater Road in Central – to be targeted.
In a video posted to the force’s Facebook page, Commissioner of Police Chris Tang Ping-keung said: “If you use violence, you will not get public support. We, the police, will do all we can to arrest you. We will step up our efforts and citizens should refrain from breaking the law.