Hong Kong leader ups ante on protesters

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Monday that protesters who clashed with police at the weekend were rioters, a legally loaded term in the city, and that she supported the police in upholding the law and seeking perpetrators.

Lam made the comments at a hospital where she visited three police officers injured in violence on Sunday between police and demonstrators angry about an extradition bill.

Hong Kong has been rocked by large and sometimes violent street protests over the past month against the bill, which many city residents see as a threat to their freedoms.

“We thank the police officers for maintaining social order loyally and professionally, but they have suffered in attacks from those rioters, they can be called rioters,” Lam said.

With more protests expected in coming days and weeks, her comments risk raising tension.

Some activists have been demanding that the government avoid using the term “riot” to refer to the protests. A conviction for rioting can carry a 10year prison sentence.

Tens of thousands of people attended Sunday’s protest, which ended in chaos in a shopping mall, with scores of protesters throwing umbrellas, hard-hats and plastic bottles at police, who fired pepper spray and hit out with batons.

THE BIGGEST POLICE UNION IS URGING THE TOP BRASS TO BETTER PROTECT RANK-AND-FILE STAFF AS THEY BRACE FOR MORE VIOLENCE

Lam said more than 10 police were injured with six admitted to hospital. The government information office said 28 people, including police, were hurt.

Police chief Stephen Lo said late on Sunday that more than 40 people were arrested on charges including assaulting police and illegal assembly.

Security chief John Lee said the government was concerned at an apparent escalation of violence by activists who threw bricks and iron bars. “We found that people who attacked the police were very organised ... they are well planned and there are plans to deliberately do damage and disrupt social stability,” Lee said as he visited the hospital with Lam.

Their comments come as the city’s biggest police union is urging Lo and his top brass to better protect rank-and-file staff as they brace for more violence.

The Junior Police Officers’ Association said in a letter to police force management on Sunday that it wanted guarantees that Lo and his senior managers could ensure their “safety and mental health”.