ACTING Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen yesterday defended the heavy deployment of police to escort alleged gunman Yip Kai-foon to court.
Mr Tsang said Hong Kong was under the rule of law and a suspect's rights had to be respected.
Police face several costly security operations because Yip has exercised his right to weekly bail hearings at Eastern Court. More than 200 police officers were posted around the court on Friday.
Asked whether this was a waste of police manpower, Mr Tsang said: 'There is no other alternative.
'As the court has permitted [Yip's request], we have to [obey the court order] even though we have to deploy the police manpower.' Yip has made no pleas to charges of shooting a police officer, escaping custody and kidnapping.
