PolyU protesters urged to surrender

November 20, 2019

Secretary for Security John Lee:
I think it needs all parties to help. If you look at the figures that I have told you, we have around 800 to 900 people who are willing to surrender, so we keep working on that.

For those who still have not made up their mind to come out and surrender, then of course we will continue to persuade them through all sorts of means. I think society’s efforts collectively will help. And it is important I think, that the right message is given to them that whatever their self-proclaimed purpose is, if their acts contravene the law, then everybody has to take up their responsibility. And that is an important message because that will be important for Hong Kong to continue as a law-abiding city. And that message must be spread and particularly people who are in the legal sector. I think the message of the rule of law is that everybody is equal before the law. And of course I am sure the court will take into consideration individual circumstances.

Secretary for Security John Lee today urged those remaining at the Polytechnic University campus to come out and surrender.

Mr Lee told reporters at the Legislative Council this morning that around 900 people have surrendered so far.

“For those who still have not made up their mind to come out and surrender, then of course we will continue to persuade them through all sorts of means. I think society’s efforts collectively will help.

“It is important, I think, that the right message is given to them that whatever their self-proclaimed purpose is, if their acts contravene the law, then everybody has to take up their responsibility.”

Mr Lee added that this message must be spread, as it is important for Hong Kong to continue as a law-abiding city.

He also stressed that Police will conduct a thorough investigation of each person that comes out of the university campus, adding that the rule of law will ensure that everybody will be dealt with justly.