Policemen pretend to shoot at someone using their fingers. Photo: Now TV, Apple Daily
More than 2,600 police officers took part in a drill Tuesday in preparation for a planned sit-in protest by Occupy Central.
The exercise was held in Wong Chuk Hang Police Academy and featured 100 police cars and 600 cadets acting as protesters, Ming Pao Daily reported Wednesday.
Police Commissioner Andy Tsang and other senior police officers led the rehearsal, with officers from the Airport Security Unit and the Counter Terrorism Response Unit also taking part.
A police spokesman said this type of drill is held regularly to prepare police officers for public activities and help them respond in a professional and efficient manner.
Occupy Central has vowed to stage a sit-in protest in the main business and financial district if a proposed electoral reform, expected to be announced by Beijing next week, does not meet its expectations for universal suffrage.
Co-founder Chan Kin-man said he is willing to risk arrest but added police should not overstep their authority.
Tuesday’s simulated exercise mainly involved removing protesters, making arrests and handling the media.
More than 7,000 police officers are expected to be deployed, the report said, citing unnamed sources.
Related story:
HK govt braces for Occupy Central blockade
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