#thread this Ming Pao front page story is one of the must-read for #HKProtests anniversary - a riot police Lee and a frontline protester Chan chatted on phone.
Their sole agreement was that the gov is still evading from handling the key problems.
On use of force
Chan said protesters could only use bricks and petrol bombs for self-defense, which could never compare with the police weapons.
Lee said bricks and petrol bombs were more harming than protesters imagined and urged Chan to rethink.
On liability
Chan said police has been abusing their power and seem under no supervision at all.
Lee disagreed but admitted that head shots and more force after arrest are not acceptable. Lee said individual officers might lose control under fear in face of unprecedented clashes.
On 7.21 Yuen Long Attack
Lee denied collaborate of police and triads and concluded the problem on allocation of manpower.
Chan did no accept the explanation.
On lynching and vandalism
Chan said it was due to "anger that could not be allayed" and police's selective law enforcement.
Lee said it contradicted the pursuit of democracy and freedom. "Even after you recover Hong Kong, you still have to handle people with different ideas"
On forms of protests
Lee said the most brilliant victory the protesters got was in the district council election.
Chan said all kinds are necessary. "Without street protests, not so many HKers wouldn't realise the city has so many problems"
On police handling of protests
Lee said he was saddened by people calling the force "rogue police" and asked what Chan expected them to do when roads were blocked.
Chan said "we each have our things to do. i only hope we wouldn't have to fight each other so bitterly."
On independent inquiry
Lee said he is personally neutral but some of his colleagues doubt if protesters will be willing to testify so the inquiry won't be focusing on police only.
Chan said he personally would not testify but the inquiry would be a first step to reconcile.
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#BREAKING HK top court ruled in favour of journalist @Baochoy’s appeal , quashing all her conviction and fines as the court found “there was no reason that bona fide investigative journalism … should be excluded from the phrase ‘other traffic and transport related purpose’.”
Choy was found guilty of “making false statement” 2 years ago for choosing the purpose of “other traffic and transport related matters” on the application form for car owner info from public registries controlled by the Transport Dept.
Choy’s search was for her award winning investigative report on #721YuenLongAttack in 2019. The application form then provided only 3 purposes for applicants after an amendment to remove the open-ended “other:” column in Oct 2019.
Tsui Hon-Kwong, veteran member of disbanded #HongKongAlliance - the group who hosted candlelight vigil for #June4 for three decades in HK, was taken away by police. He kept upholding his candle for #TiananmenMothers until police shut the door.
A man whose phone torch was on was taken away by police after a search. An officer snatched his phone as a group of officers escorted him into the search zone.
At a point people were lined up to wait for police search.
#BREAKING League of Social Democrats leader #ChanPoying was taken away minutes after she showed up with a small candle for #TiananmenMothers and two yellow flowers. She resisted and tried to uphold what she had in hands.
Heard LSD’s Chan Po-Ying said “why must police station? I don’t mind here.” before police bundled her into a police car.
Truck driver turned activist To Chi-kuen was taken away by police. He apparently carried nothing with him except wearing a tee that says “I don’t want to remember but I dare not to forget”.
#JUSTNOW This woman was taken away by police after a search. Not immediately clear what triggered the search. She upheld a small card with the Chinese characters “conscience” during the search. She wore a yellow mask, a black tee, a yellow skirt, and yellow socks with “Hong Kong”
“Going to a police station. Going to Wan Chai Police Station,” the woman shouted as police bundled her away.
A woman surnamed Cheung and in all black outfit was searched and let go by police. She told reporters police didn’t specify what made her suspicious and only checked her ID and bag. She took the search rather easy, “everyone knows what day is it today.”
#thread
On the protest-annulled Labour Day in HK, leftist party League of Social Democrats and the Women Workers Association would have small group petitions separately outside the government HQs to advocate for labour rights.
Before the 1st group LSD arrived , some 20-30 officers were seen deployed nearby with at least two holding a video camera to record the petition.
When Chan Po-ying, chairwoman of LSD arrived, an acting sergeant from the central police precinct read out an 8-point “reminder” to her. The points will be laid out in English translation from the next tweet.