Mediators at Hong Kong anti-government protests face arrest if they obstruct police, force memo confirms
- Legislators and social workers are often at anti-government demonstrations, where they say they try to cool heads on both sides
- New guidelines make clear the circumstances in which they can be detained
Legislators and social workers who try to mediate at anti-government protests face arrest if they do not make way for advancing police cordons, guidelines handed down by the force’s top brass have made clear, as unrest in Hong Kong shows no sign of dying down.
The advice would also apply when dealing with reporters, according to a memo issued by assistant commissioner Albert Yuen Yuk-kin on August 20.
But social workers and lawmakers earlier arrested for obstructing officers vowed to stand their ground at protests, while the head of a major local journalists’ association said the force should remind frontline officers to be calm.
On Friday, five social work groups wrote to Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung urging the force to recognise their supporting role on the front lines. At least 14 social workers have been arrested at protests, some charged with rioting, they said.
According to Yuen’s memo, seen by the Post, the force noted that when officers push cordons forward they are often deliberately obstructed by members of the crowd, including lawmakers, reporters and social workers.