Expert in respiratory medicine urges Hong Kong police to draw up tear gas guidelines after warning of dangers of improper use
- David Hui, chairman of the department of medicine and therapeutics at Chinese University, says some police forces do not follow manufacturers’ guidelines
- Improper use of the crowd-control weapon can do great damage to people’s health and sometimes even be lethal, he warns
An expert in respiratory medicine warned on Wednesday that improper use of tear gas could turn the non-lethal crowd-control agent into a deadly weapon and urged law enforcers in Hong Kong to draw up guidelines to ensure the safety of those targeted.
Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, chairman of the department of medicine and therapeutics at Chinese University, was referring to the more than 1,800 rounds of tear gas fired during protests against the now-shelved extradition bill since early June.
Some tear gas canisters were fired in residential areas, near elderly homes and transport hubs, drawing criticism that the force had endangered people’s health and even lives.
Hui said that according to the manufacturers’ safety guidelines, tear gas should not be fired indoors but that police in Hong Kong and in some other countries did not always follow the advice.
“Proper use of tear gas in an open area can be a very effective way of dispersing crowds,” Hui said. “However, improper use can do great damage to people’s health and sometimes even be lethal.”