Police: Unbearable consequences for HK if violence escalates

The police on Monday called on the public to stop turning a blind eye on escalating violence in recent protests or the city would face unbearable consequences.

In the first of scheduled daily press briefings, Acting Chief Superintendent Yolanda Yu Hoi-kwan said that the protests were becoming more violent and widespread, often taking place in multiple neighborhoods at the same time.

The "meet the press" arrangement was announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor earlier. A similar arrangement was introduced during the "Occupy Central" movement in 2014.

At the Monday briefing, Yu said police need to join hands with the public to end the stalemate.

As of Monday evening, the police had arrested 82 people for the non-cooperation campaign during the day, according to the police.

Since June 9, when a small group of radicals clashed with police in the evening after a peaceful mass rally against the now-shelved extradition bill, 420 people, aged between 14 and 76, had been arrested for unlawful assembly, rioting, assaulting police officers and possession of offensive weapons. Among the suspects are 347 men and 73 women.

On Monday, 16 people were arraigned at Kowloon City Magistrate Court and Kwun Tong Law Courts for charges related to the violent protests in parts of Kowloon on Saturday. Twelve of the 13 defendants arrested in Mong Kok were charged with illegal assembly, while one was charged with obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty. The other three, arrested in Wong Tai Sin, were charged with assaulting police officers; all three failed to appear in court because of injuries.

A legal and largely peaceful rally in Mong Kok on Saturday turned violent after some protesters deviated from the approved route. They marched toward Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom, where they besieged the police station, vandalized government properties and blocked the Cross Harbour Tunnel twice at the same night, paralyzing traffic in the area.

Protesters built makeshift barricades with fences removed from the road side and road signs, and set fire in several spots. Some sprayed graffiti bearing offensive words on the walls of the Tsim Sha Tsui police station and smashed cars parked on the premises.

According to Hong Kong legislation, any person who takes part in illegal assembly faces a maximum five years' imprisonment.

Earlier, 44 were charged with rioting. They are subject to up to a 10-year imprisonment on conviction. Their cases will be heard in September.