3,000 officers to be deployed as democracy campaigners plan a series of events a year after they defied tear gas to take over the streets
CLIFFORD LO AND ALLEN AU-YEUNG
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 26 September, 2015, 12:08am
UPDATED : Saturday, 26 September, 2015, 3:44am
Occupy supporters (from left) Ed Chin, Kwok Ka-ki, Dr Stephen Ng and Herman Tang announce plans for a rally. Photo: Dickson Lee
About 3,000 police officers will be deployed on Monday as a series of activities are held to commemorate the first anniversary of the pro-democracy Occupy protests, according to police sources.
Another 500 officers will be on call, but will only be activated if there is a massive turnout of protesters or if chaos breaks out, the force insiders said on Friday.
One police source said about 2,000 officers would be assigned to Hong Kong Island as key players of last year's Occupy campaign would mount a series of activities around government headquarters in Admiralty.
It is understood about 900 officers will be deployed to West Kowloon, where police expect so-called gau wuprotesters to stage a "surprise" rally in Mong Kok. Since the Occupy site in Mong Kok was cleared last year, such protesters have regularly held gatherings under the guise of shopping to obstruct Mong Kok traffic at night on Sundays and public holidays.
"We appeal to participants to stay away from troublemakers and not to follow radical protesters in case of any eventuality," the source said. "Any violence and chaos should be condemned."
Another police source said that so far, there was no indication protesters would attempt occupations or other radical activities.
Yesterday, acting secretary for security John Lee Ka-chiu said while members of the public had the right to express their views and hold public meetings, they should do so in accordance with the law and in a peaceful and orderly manner.
When asked whether he was worried chaos would break out, he said police were experienced in planning for all eventualities, and would have contingency plans to ensure order.
"I have full confidence in the police's ability in this regard," Lee added.
On Monday, activists holding yellow umbrellas are expected to swamp the area outside the government headquarters in Admiralty to observe a 15-minute silence from 5.58pm - the exact moment police fired the first round of tear gas against protesters one year ago.
The Civil Human Rights Front, one of the major organisers of events marking the first anniversary of the 79-day marathon protests, said the aim of the activities was to reflect on the Occupy movement and explore the way forward.
Student groups Scholarism and the Federation of Students, key leaders of last year's protests, will also hold talks and rallies outside the Legislative Council building today and tomorrow.
The protests began in the early hours of September 28, when Occupy Central co-founder Benny Tai Yiu-ting declared that the long-planned civil disobedience campaign would commence immediately.
Thousands of protesters flooded Harcourt Road later in the day, and the firing of tear gas by police in riot gear sparked groups to gather and occupy streets in Mong Kok and Causeway Bay as well.
Separately, four activists working in professional fields yesterday called on people to join them in a rally to defend the city's core values against encroachment by Beijing on Thursday, the National Day holiday.
They are asking participants to dress in black and gather at the Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui at about 11am.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1861503/hong-kong-police-will-be-out-force-occupy-central
