University a suspected arsenal

November 13, 2019

Police Public Relations Branch Chief Superintendent Tse Chun-chung:

What happened in Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a bad omen for Hong Kong. A university is supposed to be a breeding ground for future leaders, but it became a battlefield for criminals and rioters. What’s worse, we have strong suspicions that the school was used as a weapon factory as several hundred petrol bombs were thrown on campus in one single day.

It was the second day CUHK was thrown into chaos as masked rioters wreaked havoc to the campus in Sha Tin. We understand public concern about the police operation on the campus. Here, I’ll explain why our frontline officers had to enter the school. We are fully confident that there are strong justifications for our actions.

Back on Monday, rioters dropped objects from the No. 2 Bridge onto the Tolo Highway exactly underneath. The highway was packed with moving vehicles, so their rioting acts posed a grave danger to the safety of all road users.

To protect public safety, our officers had been deployed to guard the No. 2 Bridge since Monday.

Yesterday, the rampage started in the early afternoon when a large number of masked rioters gathered in the vicinity of the No. 2 Bridge. Police officers guarded the No. 2 Bridge to prevent rioters from dropping objects onto the highway.

At around 3pm, the masked rioters charged towards the No. 2 Bridge. In response, our officers had to use force, including tear gas to effect dispersal. Then the mobs escalated their violence and hurled numerous petrol bombs, bricks and hard objects at police officers. 

Offensive weapons like electric saws, bows and arrows were used by rioters to target police officers. Rioters’ violence reached a very dangerous and even deadly level. One may ask: where did all these petrol bombs and weapons come from, where were they made, how were they mobilised within such a short time?

We have strong suspicions that the school was used as a weapon factory. This necessitates police response and the use of force, including rubber bullets, bean bag rounds and tear gas for dispersal.

We must stress that during the whole day, police officers only responded to rioters’ violence and entered CUHK to disperse the mob. Our goal is to safeguard the No. 2 Bridge and to prevent rioters from dropping objects from height onto the moving vehicles underneath.

In conclusion, it is very unfair for everyone to put the blame on police officers for the current chaotic and panic situation. Who would have imagined a university has become a manufacturing base for petrol bombs and a refuge for rioters and criminals? We must make this very clear: nowhere in Hong Kong is lawless. If someone breaks the law, regardless of where you hide, Police have lawful powers to come after the offenders and bring them to justice. No excuse, no political demand can spare anyone from legal liability. Please respect the rule of law. Everyone in Hong Kong has the responsibility to end violence right now.

Police today said the Chinese University of Hong Kong appears to have been used as a weapon factory.

Police Public Relations Branch Chief Superintendent Tse Chun-chung made the statement at a press conference this afternoon, during which he explained the force’s operation at the university yesterday.

Mr Tse said the force’s goal was to safeguard the No. 2 Bridge, which leads to the university and is above the Tolo Highway.

Noting that a large number of masked rioters had charged towards the bridge at about 3pm yesterday, Mr Tse said officers had to use force, including tear gas, to disperse rioters and prevent them from dropping objects onto the highway.

Rioters then escalated their violence and hurled petrol bombs, bricks and hard objects at police officers.

Mr Tse said the university, which is supposed to be a breeding ground for future leaders, has become a battlefield for criminals and rioters.

He said: “Offensive weapons like electric saws, bows and arrows were used by rioters to target police officers. Rioters’ violence reached a very dangerous and even deadly level.

“One may ask: where did all these petrol bombs and weapons come from, where were they made, how were they mobilised within such a short time?

“We have strong suspicions that the school was used as a weapon factory.

“This necessitates police response and the use of force, including rubber bullets, bean bag rounds and tear gas for dispersal.”

Mr Tse also stressed that it is unfair to blame Police for the current chaotic situation.

“Who would have imagined a university has become a manufacturing base for petrol bombs and a refuge for rioters and criminals?

“We must make this very clear: nowhere in Hong Kong is lawless. If someone breaks the law, regardless of where you hide, Police have lawful powers to come after the offenders and bring them to justice.

“No excuse, no political demand can spare anyone from legal liability.

”Everyone in Hong Kong has the responsibility to end violence right now.”