John Lee: protests unprecedented

August 6, 2019

Secretary for Security John Lee:
The series of incidents that affected the public peace and caused violence was unprecedented since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland. They were the most widespread, most damaging and most serious. They created serious danger to Hong Kong society as a whole.

The Police reacted to where protesters gathered, particularly violent protesters. In simple words, protesters chose the locations, Police had to deal with them, where they gathered and where they might cause violence or damage to public safety and public peace.

They were widespread. That was why some might have taken place in residential areas, because protesters spread to different places, including residential areas.

(To watch the video with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Secretary for Security John Lee today said yesterday’s incidents affected public peace and were unprecedented since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland.

Speaking at a press conference in the afternoon on the impact of the protests, Mr Lee said: “They were the most widespread, most damaging and most serious. They created serious danger to Hong Kong society as a whole.”

He added the Police had to react to where protesters had gathered.

“The Police reacted to where protesters gathered, particularly violent protesters. In simple words, protesters chose the locations, Police had to deal with them, where they gathered and where they might cause violence or damage to public safety and public peace.

“They were widespread. That was why some might have taken place in residential areas, because protesters spread to different places, including residential areas."