Police inflicting unwanted injuries: health workers

Police inflicting unwanted injuries: health workers

Joseph Lee talks to RTHK's Richard Pyne

Hundreds of medical workers attended a rally in Central to protest against what they say is escalating violence by the police at recent anti-government demonstrations, and raised concerns about the kind of injuries suffered by protesters.



Michael Lau, a registered nurse and one of the organisers of the event at Chater Garden, said frontline medical staff are increasingly worried about the extent of injuries protesters are suffering from after attending various demonstrations.



Lau said the role of officers should simply be to disperse crowds, not attack protesters.



“We are very concerned because such injuries could have been avoided if police can [adhere to] their standard on the use of violence. The aim of the police at the mass gathering is to disperse the mass crowds, rather than attack and inflict injuries on them. We strongly condemn such overuse of excessive force over civilians and protesters”, he said.



“We want the police, as professionals, to have the proper use of violence. They can disperse the mass crowds, they can arrest those who break the law, but don’t make them in serious injury or even in fatal condition”, he added.



Other public hospital doctors who attended the gathering said many of their patients have refused to wear masks in fear of being arrested under the anti-mask law. They said the situation is very worrying and could lead to a sharp rise in seasonal flu cases over the next few months.



Health services sector lawmaker Joseph Lee, who spoke at the rally told RTHK's Richard Pyne that during the recent protests, police officers have been interfering with people getting treatment.



The organiser said 10,000 people took part in the rally.