The Government today strongly condemned protesters for storming Police cordon lines and blocking access to the Central Government Offices and Lung Wo Road.
Secretary for Security TK Lai said during a media briefing this morning that such acts show a blatant disregard for the law and endanger public safety, adding that last night’s actions were organised and planned.
He said the protesters had gathered together and put up so-called "defensive materials" and had counted down before systematically charging at the Police cordon with barricades made from metal barriers.
Mr Lai said last night’s events had fully demonstrated that the protesters had strayed far beyond their original declarations of a peaceful, non-violent expression of views.
The security chief said the Police had no choice but to take resolute action to stop the illegal acts and disperse and arrest the protesters.
Eleven police officers were injured during the incident and 40 people have been arrested so far.
In a statement issued this morning, the Government strongly condemned the student groups who organised the storming of the CGO last night.
The statement noted that recent polls have shown the majority of people wish for the occupation to end, but the student groups are going against the majority and have escalated their occupation which is aggravating the damage to social order and sacrificing the overall interests of the Hong Kong people.
The Government reiterated that any discussion on constitutional reform must be guided by the Basic Law and the relevant decisions of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.
"Deliberate disregard for and distortion of these important legal principles through building castles in the air would only delay the constitutional and democratic development of Hong Kong," the statement added.
