Tense calm in Wan Chai before Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s first dialogue session on protest crisis – with 3,000 police deployed for security
- Nearby schools and health centres close early, with police officers seen entering Queen Elizabeth Stadium with crowd-control weapons
- Protesters had pledged to besiege the stadium to derail what they called a ‘fake dialogue’
The Wan Chai neighbourhood surrounding Queen Elizabeth Stadium was quiet and apprehensive on Thursday with a heavy police presence in place before the city leader’s first public dialogue on the protest crisis that has gripped Hong Kong for nearly four months.
Several nearby schools and health centres closed early, and a police source said nearly 3,000 officers were deployed for security. At least 100 police officers, including riot police, were seen entering the stadium in the afternoon with crowd-control weapons, including tear gas and rifles capable of firing rubber bullets.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was expected to speak with preregistered residents from 7pm to 9pm. It is her latest bid to end the recent political turmoil, triggered by opposition to a now-withdrawn extradition bill, which has grown into a full-fledged anti-government movement.
Protesters had pledged to besiege the stadium to derail what they called a “fake dialogue”.
Police on Thursday placed a cordon around parking spots on Oi Kwan Road, with several police vans and officers on motorbikes patrolling the area. A police source said metal detectors would be in place at the stadium and participants would have their bags searched before entering.