Hong Kong protests: put away the tear gas, police urged, as residents claim public health risk
- About 200 march in Central to air worries about long-term effects of substance, with more than 10,000 canisters fired so far
- Police chief says his officers have no choice in the face of protesters’ violence
About 200 peaceful protesters of all ages gathered in Central on Sunday morning to demand an end to police use of tear gas, after more than 10,000 canisters fired during recent anti-government unrest.
Most wore surgical masks and held yellow balloons at the Edinburgh Place gathering, many parents taking young children along.
They chanted slogans including “No more tear gas” and “Disband the police force” as they marched from the square, through Tamar Park to the government’s headquarters.
One of them was 26-year-old engineering surveyor Sonny, who said the widespread recent use of tear gas was a risk to children’s health.
“Tear gas has been fired in too many places in Hong Kong, which affects the surroundings and will influence children’s growth, since the chemical components are toxic,” he said.
