1,500 Hong Kong police officers on standby to prevent unrest and conflict with mainland Chinese tourists during extradition bill protest on Sunday

Security in Hong Kong’s busy shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui and its West Kowloon cross-border high-speed rail terminus will be strengthened with 1,500 officers standing by to guard against unrest and conflict with tourists during an extradition bill protest on Sunday, the Post has learned.

A Beijing source assessing the situation in Hong Kong said mainland Chinese officials handling Hong Kong affairs were very concerned the rally outside the terminus might descend into clashes with tourists from across the border.

Hong Kong law enforcement departments held a meeting with MTR Corporation to map out a contingency plan for Sunday, when 2,000 extradition bill protesters were expected to march from Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront to West Kowloon railway station.

A local government source said that in the worst scenario, the railway station would be closed if all exits including emergency accesses for commuters were blocked.

“[Closure] is unlikely as many remedial steps can be taken before that,” the source said.

Adi Lau Tin-shing, operations director for the MTR Corporation, said on Friday crowd control measures would be put in place when necessary.

The march follows a series of protests and sieges at the city’s legislature and government headquarters in Admiralty and police headquarters in Wan Chai over the past four weeks.

The Beijing source said: “We hope protesters will not conflict with mainland tourists near the terminus on Sunday.

“We also notice unwise acts among some young people, such as committing suicide to vent their anger with the government.”

The source added the central government was still observing and reflecting on the current situation in Hong Kong.

“We hope the tension will cool down as soon as possible,” the source said.

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The march’s organiser was granted a “letter of no objection” from the force on Friday, but was barred from marching along a section of Canton Road, where shopping malls such as 1881 Heritage, and Ocean Terminal, Ocean Centre and Harbour City – popular among mainland tourists – are located.

The protesters will gather at Salisbury Garden on Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui at 3.30pm, for a 1½-hour march towards the open area outside the rail terminus that will start at 4pm.

The route will go along Salisbury Road, Kowloon Park Drive and a section of pavement on Canton Road and Austin Road West.

A law enforcement source said police were concerned protesters would cause nuisance to mainland Chinese tourists.

“Verbal disputes will be tolerated, but police must take action if any act of violence is used,” he said.

Another source said 1,200 riot officers from two regional response contingents stationed at the government headquarters would be deployed to guard against possible unrest.

He said officers from public order event investigation teams equipped with video recording gear and crime squad officers would also be deployed to monitor the march, along with traffic police.

Extra officers would also be stationed in the restricted area on the Hong Kong side of the rail terminus.

Since June 12 when police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and beanbag rounds to disperse radical protesters outside the government complex, more than 60 people have been arrested in connection with the extradition bill protests as well as for releasing personal information of officers online.

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Meanwhile, the British government on Friday issued a foreign travel advisory for nationals heading to Hong Kong in view of Sunday’s march.

It said the situation remained unpredictable and travellers should remain vigilant and keep up to date with developments.

Additional reporting by Denise Tsang and Christy Leung