On behalf of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA), Mr Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen and Mr Jeffery Lam Kin-fung, respectively BPA Chairman and Vice Chairman, today (October 6) visited Police Inspector Tsang, who was injured in the line of duty during violent clashes surrounding the Occupy Central protests in Mongkok. They conveyed their sympathies to him and also expressed the wish for civilians and police officers injured during the incidents to recover soon.
More than 20 police officers have suffered injuries in the recent disputes. Regarded as one of the more serious incidences of violence surrounding the protests, Inspector Tsang was hit by stone fragments, which required sutures to be made on his forehead. Inspector Tsang’s case exemplifies the growing threat posed by Occupy Central to social order and personal safety as the violence intensifies.
As a father of two young children, Inspector Tsang said that he could only spend a few hours at home every day since the occurrence of Occupy Central. Furthermore, the injury he sustained has only added to the concerns of his family. Despite recent events, he firmly believes that he is obliged to discharge his duties in a professional manner. He is also confident that he and his colleagues would continue to remain fair and politically impartial when enforcing the law, maintaining social order and safeguarding public security.
BPA extends its best wishes and hearty approbation to Inspector Tsang for his professional integrity and in upholding the police codes of conduct. The BPA condemns all manner and form of violent attacks and urged protesters to express their opinions through more peaceful and lawful means. The BPA believes that our Police Force is fully capable of maintaining security and restoring public order.
The Occupy protest has entered its ninth day. Although most protesters are peaceful and restrained, there are some who choose to incite violence. BPA again respectfully calls on protesters to peacefully vacate the occupied areas as soon as possible in the interest of restoring normalcy and to avoid further deterioration to an already delicate situation that could result in further bloodshed.
Since the beginning of Occupy Central, police officers have been subject to physical sometimes violent confrontations and verbal abuse including being ridiculed online. There have even been allegations that the police were working hand in glove with criminals. Needless to say, members of the police force have been subjected to unrelenting pressures from all sides. The clashes caused by the Occupy movement have been a cause of constant consternation and pressure on families of police officers. It should be remembered that behind the uniform, the police are no different from ordinary citizens like you and I. And like us, they need understanding and support.