Police yet again moved in to quash fresh protests on Sunday against the government’s plans to establish quarantine centers and designated coronavirus clinics in several districts as fears over the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak continue to mount.
Demonstrators in Kwai Chung, Cheung Sha Wan, Sai Kung, Fo Tan, and Kowloon Bay gathered to demand authorities place any quarantine facilities far away from residential districts, despite acknowledging the need for extra facilities as the number of suspected cases continues to rise.
So far, Hong Kong has recorded 58 confirmed coronavirus cases, one of them fatal.
In Kwai Chung, hundreds marched in opposition to plans to use the South Kwai Chung Jockey Club general outpatient clinic as one of 18 designated clinics for treating suspected COIVD-19 patients showing mild symptoms.
The rally, which was approved beforehand, was led by district councillors and Democratic Party lawmaker Andrew Wan Siu-kin, with Kwai Tsing district councillor Ng Kim-sing saying the government should instead consider setting up a temporary clinic in the abandoned Kwai Chung Public School nearby.
A police vehicle followed the crowd and officers stood by in the area to monitor the march.
Later in the afternoon, hundreds similarly gathered at Lei Chung Uk Estate in Cheung Sha Wan and marched to Cheung Sha Wan Jockey Club outpatient clinic.
Several participants were stopped and frisked by police and later released.
Speaking at the rally, pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo said that the government’s quarantine plans were like “setting a fire and extinguishing a fire at the same time.”
“Some ask, if residents keep opposing the use of certain sites for quarantine purposes, where else can the government seek extra facilities?” Mo said.
“But the root cause of the problem is the government is reluctant to entirely close the remaining borders.”
Despite the lingering calls for a full border closure, however, most of the recently reported COVID-19 cases have been local transmissions. What’s more, the demand for quarantine facilities has been driven in part by a government order imposing a mandatory 14-day quarantine on any travelers arriving in Hong Kong from the mainland.
Meanwhile, in Sai Kung, hundreds gathered at the Waterfront Park to protest against the government using the Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Center for quarantine purposes.
The host for the rally slammed the authorities’ “capricious” stance on setting up quarantine centers in the district.
“The information given to us is incoherent,” the spokesperson said.
“The authorities first purposed the plan, then they withdrew it once we came to the street to protest. Later there were also rumors that people undergoing quarantine have been sent to the recreation center already.”
“However, the government has never clarified the rumors.”
Over in Fo Tan, more than 100 people marched at San Mei Street Playground in objection to the government’s plan to use the newly-completed Chun Yeung Estate for quarantine purposes.
Executive council member Lam Ching-choi assured residents on Sunday that those living near potential quarantine sites faced no risk of infection, and that without quarantine facilities, the government will have nowhere to house repatriated Hongkongers exposed to the disease on the mainland and elsewhere.
“When patients need to be referred to hospitals for further check-ups, they will be sent by coaches directly from the quarantine centers. There will be no contact with the community,” Lam said.
Finally, at around 9pm, hundreds of people gathered outside Richland Gardens in Kowloon Bay and began chanting slogans opposing nearby coronavirus clinics, saying they were too close to residential areas.
At about 10pm, some people tried to block roads with trash cans and debris, prompting riot police to rush into the estate.
Police hoisted a blue flag warning they would use force against people unwilling to disperse, before using pepper spray to chase protesters and reporters on the scene.
Yesterday’s protests came after police arrested dozens of people at a similar march in Tin Shui Wai on Saturday.
https://www.facebook.com/HongKongPoliceForce/posts/2972298932858051
Protesters there had vandalized ticket machines and thrown items including rubbish bins onto the light rail tracks.
Police dispersed the crowd with pepper spray and arrested 33 people aged 14 to 52 for allegedly taking part in an illegal assembly, possession of offensive weapons, breaching the telecommunications ordinance, and disorderly conduct in a public place
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