Police apologise to tear gas-hit pharmacy

Police apologise to tear gas-hit pharmacy

A pharmacy in Yau Ma Tei says police have apologised for firing tear gas at the store during clashes with anti-government protesters on Sunday.



Video footage shows staff running out of the smoke-filled shop after a tear gas canister was thrown inside.



The shopkeeper, surnamed Wu, said four representatives of the police visited the store on Monday morning and said they were sorry, without explaining why tear gas was fired at the pharmacy.



“We already half-closed our shutter when the tear gas canister was thrown into our shop suddenly. We all ran outside. There weren't many people on the streets but the police fired tear gas nevertheless,” Wu said.



He said at least six bottles of supplements were burnt, adding that staff were still checking if other products had been affected.



An RTHK reporter said he could still smell tear gas and felt stinging in his eyes when he visited the shop on Monday morning.



A restaurant in Mong Kok was also hit by a tear gas canister on Sunday and one of its advertisement boards caught fire.



A KMB bus was also filled with tear gas in Mong Kok, with the driver appearing to have been overcome by the chemicals as his passengers streamed out of the vehicle.