Taking into consideration transportation service disruptions, and to ensure the safety of patients and staff members, the Department of Health today (November 17) announced that its methadone clinics with evening services will be closed earlier at 9pm today.
Please visit the following website for the information of methadone clinics: www.dh.gov.hk/english/tele/tele_chc/tele_chc_mc.html.
Rioters continue to occupy roads outside The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. At around 10am today (November 17), rioters charged at Police officers using lethal weapons including bricks, petrol bombs, bows and arrows. At around 2pm, a member of the Force Media Liaison Cadre was hit in the calf by an arrow. He was next to the Kowloon Rosary Church at the junction of Chatham Road South and Austin Road, around 30 meters away from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The injured officer has been conveyed to the hospital in conscious state. He was carrying out media liaison duties at that time, when a large group of journalists were reporting in the same area. Such an attack poses a grave threat to the safety of everyone at scene.
Police severely condemn the violent acts of all rioters and are conducting dispersal and arrest operations. Due to the deteriorating situation, members of the public are advised to avoid going to the vicinity of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
A large number of rioters continue to occupy the roads outside The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, including the entrances and exits of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, Chatham Road South, Austin Road, Cheong Wan Road and nearby areas. Rioters set up barricades and confronted Police officers. In the past hour, rioters repeatedly hurled bricks and petrol bombs at Police officers. To protect the safety of the public, Police have used the minimum force necessary and deployed tear gas a number of times to disperse rioters.
Police warn the rioters to stop illegal acts immediately. Police reiterate that a dispersal operation is being conducted in the vicinity of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Given the dangerous situation, members of the public are advised to leave immediately and avoid going to the area.
Although the roads and public transport services in the territory have gradually resumed, there are still uncertain factors currently. Also, tomorrow is the first working day after weekend. Classes of all schools (including kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and special schools) will remain suspended tomorrow (November 18) for the sake of safety. Schools should also make good preparation for later class resumption.
During class suspension, schools must keep their premises open and parents may send their children to school if needed. Schools should arrange for staff to return to school under safe and feasible conditions to look after students who have arrived at school. They should maintain contact with parents and allow students to return home only under safe conditions.
All parties should immediately put a halt to all violent and destructive activities so that students can return to their normal school life. If the situation allows, schools may resume classes on Tuesday (November 19) the earliest. Schools should pay attention to the Education Bureau (EDB)'s further announcement, make good preparation for class resumption and work out contingency measures for class arrangements to meet various emergency situations.
The EDB reminded students again to stay at home and not to wander in the streets. They should stay away from danger and must not participate in unlawful activities.
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
Since November 11, rioters have been gathering in the vicinity of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, unlawfully blocking and damaging harbour crossing facilities and paralysing traffic in the district.
Last night (November 16), a large number of rioters continued to wreak havoc to the area and charged towards Granville Road where they set fire to trash and hurled numerous petrol bombs at Police officers, reporters and innocent citizens. They showed total disregard for the safety of everyone at scene. In order to prevent the situation from deteriorating, Police had no alternative but to resolutely use the minimum necessary force, including tear gas, to curb the violence.
This morning (November 17), a large number of rioters still occupied Austin Road and Chatham Road South in Kowloon. They unlawfully blocked roads and hurled petrol bombs, posing a serious threat to public peace and public safety.
Having given repeated warnings but in vain, Police are using the minimum necessary force, including tear gas, to effect dispersal. Police warn rioters to stop all illegal acts and leave immediately. Citizens in the area are also advised to leave immediately. Members of the public should stay tuned to the latest situation and avoid travelling to the area.