A Government spokesman has today (December 25) refuted in the strongest possible terms the statement issued earlier by Hong Kong Watch accusing the Hong Kong Police Force of taking brutal action against "peaceful shoppers and protesters" celebrating Christmas Eve in Tsim Sha Tsui and other areas. 

     "There is nothing further from the truth in these false accusations and fabrications. The Police had adopted a measured and restrained approach throughout. Only minimum force was deployed in response to the blatant unlawful activities of the violent protesters on Christmas Eve. These violent activities included arson, recklessly vandalising shops and the Mongkok Branch of HSBC, blockading roads, destroying 21 sets of traffic lights in Mong Kok area, brutally assaulting innocent members of the public, attacking police officers by petrol bombs and charging police cordon lines and unlawful assembly," the spokesman stressed.

     These unlawful activities undeniably greatly affected public peace and safety and therefore necessitated police enforcement actions.

     The spokesman described the remarks by Hong Kong Watch's chairman that "Hong Kong witnessed truly outrageous police brutality on Christman Eve" as "fake, utterly irresponsible and grossly unfair". 

     "This kind of myth and malicious falsehoods must be debunked forthwith as they have painted an entirely wrong image of Hong Kong overseas. Hong Kong strongly believes in and strictly abides by the rule of law. There can be no question of our Police acting against peaceful shoppers and protesters," the spokesman added.

Ends/Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Issued at HKT 18:54

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