Police hold up warning banners as they pepper spray protesters on Sep. 28. (Laurel Chor/Coconuts Media)
Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said in a statement yesterday that the police had no choice but to use tear gas on pro-democracy protesters due to protective gear like cling wrap and umbrellas.
A lawmaker asked the government about the types and quantity of weapons bought by the Hong Kong Police Force and when they’ve been used in the last five years, in light of the revelation that Hong Kong had spent billions on buying arms from the UK.
In response, Lai talked about Sep. 28 – the first day of the Umbrella Movement – when the police first used pepper spray to “stop the protesters’ violent acts”.
However, Lai says that the spray was useless in stopping the crowd from charging as protesters were equipped with “such gear as goggles, face masks, umbrellas and cling film for eye and body protection”.
Thus, the police had “no alternative” but to use tear gas to maintain public safety and public order.
Lai did not comment on whether the tear gas worked, but last time we checked, people were still out on the streets.
Lai also listed two incidents in which bullets were fired in the last five years: once in 2010 during an anti-vehicle-theft operation and another time in 2014 during an arrest in Kowloon Bay. There were reportedly no casualties at either.
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