Hong Kong Police Defend Use of Tear Gas to Deter Protests
- Updated Sep 29, 2014
Police in Hong Kong say they are right to use tear gas to help control protests in the city. Still, the protests are continuing to grow, according to reports.
"The students are protecting the right to vote, for Hong Kong's future. We are not scared, we are not frightened, we just fight for it," said Carol Chan, a 55-year-old civil service employee.
Monday night, protesters chanted “Resign” as another protesters chanted the name of the city’s leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.
Also Monday, police guarded barricades, but did not interfere with protests.
Sunday, however, police used nearly 90 rounds of tear gas after protesters tried to push through barricades. About 40 people were injured, including 12 police officers.
"Police cordon lines were heavily charged, by some violent protesters. So police had to use the minimum force in order to separate the distance at that moment between the protesters and also the police," Cheung Tak-keung, the assistant police commissioner for operations, told reporters Monday.
The government also recently announced that it was cancelling a fireworks display planned for Oct. 1 National Day.
Publication date: September 29, 2014
