Police had earlier received an application to conduct a public event in Tai Po yesterday afternoon (August 10). Due to the high safety risks, Police issued notice of objection against the public event. The Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions also held a hearing on the application and dismissed the appeal. However, a large group of protestors still gathered in Tai Po yesterday and occupied traffic lanes. They later spread to other districts and committed violent acts, showing disregard for the safety of other people in the area. Police condemn such behaviours.

     Protestors set barricades with railings and road signs in various locations including Tai Po, Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Kowloon Tong, Tsim Sha Tsui and Cross-Harbour Tunnel, paralysing the traffic. Some protestors aimed laser beams at police officers and some violent protestors hurled miscellaneous objects and stones at police officers. Moreover, some radical protestors committed arson in various locations. They set fire to miscellaneous objects outside Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station and near Suffolk Road in Kowloon Tong, showing disregard for the safety of others and seriously affecting the services of police stations.

     Police urged protestors to leave as soon as possible through on-site broadcast, social media and press releases. Such warnings were repeated but in vain. Police then conducted dispersal operation in locations including Tsim Sha Tsui and Tai Wai. Depending on the situations at scene, Police used appropriate force including deploying tear gas to stop the violent acts.

     During the operation, Police arrested 16 persons for unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapon, assaulting a police officer and obstructing a police officer in the execution of duties.

     Police reiterate that anyone participating in an unauthorized assembly commits an offence. Police will strictly enforce the law against all violent and illegal acts.

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the work accident that happened in an outdoor shopping centre in Yuen Long, New Territories yesterday (August 10) afternoon, in which a female worker was pressed by a toppled leaf of a sliding gate while she was closing it.  The worker was seriously injured and was certified dead in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and has expressed its deepest sympathy to the victim's family.
 
     The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the employer involved, the property management company and the maintenance company, suspending the use and maintenance of the metal sliding gate. The work cannot be resumed until LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken."
 
      The spokesman added, "We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
 
 The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, safe plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months.
 
In regard to yesterday's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.
   
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
 
      For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

     In response to the protests yesterday (August 10), a Government spokesman said the following:

     There were unlawful assemblies in various places in Kowloon and the New Territories today. Protesters damaged public property and blocked a number of thoroughfares including the Kowloon entrances of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, seriously obstructing the traffic and affecting emergency services and commercial activities.

     At night, protesters set fire in various areas, posing a threat to public safety.

     Owing to these unlawful assemblies, some public service facilities had to be closed early to ensure the safety of users. The persistent illegal activities have been significantly affecting people's daily lives. 

     We have to emphasise that protesters' behaviors are not only illegal but also disregarding public order and the needs of other members of the public. Violent behaviours such as arson are even more dangerous. The Government strongly condemns these acts.

     The police will strictly enforce the law. Violent protesters who breached the law should be brought to justice.

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     A group of protestors are gathering outside the Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station, hurling objects and aiming laser beams at Police officers, posing a threat to the safety of members of the public and officers at scene.
      
     After giving repeated warnings to the protestors but in vain, Police deployed tear gas and will use minimum force to disperse them.
      
     Police appeal to everyone at scene to leave immediately and condemn all violent acts.

     A fire broke out at a construction site at 111 So Kwun Wat Road in Tuen Mun at 6.16pm today (August 10). The fire was upgraded to No.3 alarm at 6.33pm.
 
     The fire was surrounded at 8.35pm and largely put out at 9pm.
 
     Firemen used four jets and mobilised six breathing apparatus teams to fight the blaze.
 
     Two persons were reported injured but did not need to be conveyed to hospital.