WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1073
22
USE OF TEAR-SMOKE AT
CLEARANCE OPERATION EXPLAINED
******
TEAR-SMOKE GRENADES WERE USED DURING A CLEARANCE OPERATION IN CHOI YUEN TSUEN, SHEUNG SHUI RECENTLY AFTER STAFF OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE MADE REPEATED REQUESTS AND APPEALS TO FIVE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR PREMISES, BUT TO NO AVAIL.
THE DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, NEW TERRITORIES ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE USE OF TEAR-SMOKE DURING THAT OPERATION WAS JUSTIFIED AFTER THE POLICE OFFICER IN CHARGE SUBMITTED A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT.
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES SAID THIS TODAY WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. PETER C. WONG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MR. DAVIES SAID OF THE FOUR MEN AND ONE WOMAN WHO BARRICADED THEMSELVES WITHIN A DOMESTIC/WORKSHOP STRUCTURE ON APRIL 25, WHEN THE CLEARANCE OPERATION WAS CARRIED OUT, ONE MAN WAS SEEN TO BE ARNED WITH A CLEAVER AND ANOTHER WITH A WOODEN CLUB.
+AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS TO THEM TO VACATE THE BUILDING, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR IN CHARGE OF THE CLEARANCE WORK CONCLUDED THAT ANY MOVE TO OUST THE OCCUPANTS WOULD RESULT IN VICLENCE. HE THEREFORE REQUESTED THE POLICE WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE SCENE TO REMOVE THESE PERSONS.+
"R. DAVIES SAID THE POLICE MADE FURTHER APPEALS TO THE OCCUPANTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL.
+THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE POLICE CONTINGENT THEREFORE DECIDED THAT THE USE OF TEAR-SMOKE WAS THE MINIMUM FORCE LIKELY TO BE EFFECTIVE IN CLEARING THE PREMISES WITHOUT RISK OF SERICUS INJURY.
THE TEAR-SMOKE GRENADES WERE LOBBED INTO THE BARRICADED SECTION OF THE BUILDING.
+THE POLICE THEN FORCED ENTRY TO THE PREMISES AND REMOVED THE OCCUPANTS WHO CONSISTED OF THE FORMER TENANT, HIS WIFE, TWO NEPHEWS, AND A FIFTH PERSON,+ R. DAVIES SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE OCCUPANTS WERE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC AT SHEUNG SHUI FOR TREATMENT FOR THE EFFECTS CF TEAR-SMOKE.
+NO-ONE WAS DETAINED NOR SUFFERED ANY PHYSICAL INJURY.+
ONE MAN, THE FIFTH PERSO: IN THE BUILDING, WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGED WITH CESTRUCTING A PUBLIC OFFICER UNDER THE CROWN LANDS ORDINANCE. HE HAD BEEN PLACED ON REMAND PENDING A REPORT ON HIS MENTAL HEALTH, MR. DAVIES SAID.
/MR. DAVIES
+