Kenneth Leung wants tear gas content revealed

The government is under pressure to reveal the contents of tear gas, amid health concerns. File photo: Shutterstock

Professional Commons lawmaker, Kenneth Leung, said on Thursday that it's ridiculous of police not to reveal the ingredients of the tear gas they are using, because people are concerned about the impact on their health.



On Wednesday, the Health Secretary, Sophia Chan, refused to disclose the components, citing police operational reasons, but said there was no evidence to suggest that the use of tear gas can produce dioxins or cause dioxin poisoning.



Dioxins are highly toxic and can sometimes cause cancer.



However, Leung said he saw no reason for the police to cite an "operational need" to conceal the information from the public.



He also urged the government to issue more guidelines on how to clean up tear gas residue, especially from food produce, given the use of the gas near the Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market.



"In the past five months, approximately 10,000 canisters of tear gas have been used, and, as citizens, we have the right to get informed what sort of chemical compounds are there in the canisters of tear gas," Leung said.