Police deploy tear gas to stop violent acts of rioters in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     Since 1pm today (May 24), a group of protestors assembled in Causeway Bay. Some rioters assaulted police officers and threw hard objects at them. Hennessy Road, Yee Wo Street and Fleming Road were blocked by rioters with miscellaneous objects, causing serious obstruction to the road traffic. Police officers are maintaining law and order at the scene and using the minimum necessary force, including tear gas, to disperse the rioters.

     Police warn rioters to stop all unlawful and violent acts. Members of the public are urged to leave the scene and proceed to safe locations. Police will continue to take enforcement actions.




Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool temporarily closed

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 24) that Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of faeces in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.




Police deploy tear gas to stop violent acts of rioters in Causeway Bay

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     At about 1pm today (May 24), a group of protestors occupied Hennessy Road, causing serious obstruction to the road traffic including buses, trams and other vehicles. As Police officers were maintaining law and order at the scene, rioters threw umbrellas, water bottles and other objects at them. Police have used the minimum necessary force, including tear gas, to stop the violent acts of rioters.
      
     Police warn rioters to stop all unlawful and violent acts, and will conduct resolute action to enforce the law, stop rioters from disrupting public order and endangering public safety. Members of the public are urged to leave the scene and proceed to safe locations.




Police urge the public not to participate in unlawful activities

     Police are aware that some netizens have called for an unauthorised assembly on Hong Kong Island today (May 24). Besides, some people intentionally misinterpreted the definition of exempted group gatherings under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (the Regulation) in order to incite others to take part in unlawful activities. Police strongly condemn such irresponsible act.
      
     It must be emphasised that according to the Schedule One of the Regulation, a group gathering during a religious activity is exempted only if it is held at a premise constructed or regularly used as a place of worship. Therefore, not all religious activities are exempted under the Regulation.
      
     According to the Public Order Ordinance, participating in an unauthorised assembly carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. On the other hand, group gatherings may also increase the risk of transmission of diseases in the community, constituting the offence of "participating in a prohibited group gathering" under the Regulation.
      
     Police do not condone any illegal act and appeal to members of the public to refrain from participating in any unauthorised assembly or prohibited group gathering. Officers are deployed to take resolute law enforcement actions, including making arrests.




Person in custody rescued from suicide dies in public hospital a day later

     A 57-year-old male remand person in custody at Stanley Prison committed suicide by hanging on May 22. After rescue, he was sent to a public hospital on the same day and was subsequently certified dead yesterday (May 23).

     At 8.51pm, May 22, the person in custody committed suicide by hanging himself with a bedsheet tied to the window grille bars of his cell. Correctional officers immediately provided first aid treatment to the person in custody and called for an ambulance to send him to a public hospital for treatment. After being rescued, he remained unconscious and received in-patient treatment in the public hospital. His condition deteriorated last night and he was certified dead at 11.50pm.

     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner's Court.

     The person in custody was remanded for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug in October 2019.