Noisy police supporters pester Tsuen Wan Council

Noisy police supporters pester Tsuen Wan Council

The group who heckled and interrupted the councillors had earlier said they had come to support Police Commissioner Chris Tang. Photo: RTHK

A group of police supporters made their noisy presence felt at a Tsuen Wan District Council meeting on Wednesday, interrupting and heckling councillors whenever they raised matters about officers' handling of anti-government protests.



Around a hundred people, most wearing face masks, had held a demonstration before the council meeting got underway, to show their support for the police chief ahead of his appearance there.



The crowd said Police Commissioner Chris Tang has been doing well in leading the force as officers are enforcing the law strictly to handle the ongoing protests.



They also chanted slogans saying they support the introduction of stun guns, as well a pay rise planned for officers.



One of the protesters, Jackson Kwan, said the anti-government movement has damaged the future of Hong Kong.



He said he came to show his support to all officers, not just the number one official in the force.



As the meeting started, the members of the group occupying the public gallery started loudly coughing, booing and shouting at members who raised allegations against police.



As most of the crowd wore face masks, council chairman Sumly Chan found it difficult to pin down who was shouting when councillors were speaking. Later, a woman was asked to get out when she was caught interrupting the meeting.



Chaos erupted again when someone in the crowd started accusing journalists of manhandling them. Councillor Lester Shum tried to pacify the crowd, and they then accused him of hitting them.



This led to another bout of arguments and counter arguments which brought the meeting to another standstill.



One elderly man who kept on arguing with the council chairman was escorted out before the meeting resumed once again.



Earlier, some members of the Labour Party also protested at the site, saying that police officers should not be given pay rises. They also said the commissioner should go to meetings of all 18 districts to address incidents of alleged police brutality.