Loyalists praise police as pan-dems hit out

Loyalists praise police as pan-dems hit out

Lawmakers from the pro-establishment and pan-democratic camps have given sharply different commentaries on Saturday's anti-extradition protests and the police response.



More than 30 people were injured and dozens were arrested on a day of clashes across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, as thousands defied a ban on an organised march marking the fifth anniversary of a controversial edict from Beijing on electoral reform.



Some 39 lawmakers in the Beijing loyalist camp signed a statement condemning the violence of protesters, saying their actions were lawless as they stormed government buildings, used petrol bombs, vandalised the MTR system and set fires on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai.



They said the violence had destroyed peace and business confidence in Hong Kong and they expressed support for lawful actions by the police.



However pan-democrats condemned the police, in particular for a late-night raid on the Prince Edward MTR Station, in which officers charged into the platform and onto a train.



"It was blatantly clear through press footage and photos, yet police would still dare to deny that such happenings have ever taken place, that the police were beating up ordinary citizens most indiscriminately," said Council Front lawmaker Claudia Mo.



They made more than 40 arrests. Many of the people caught up in the raids were in plain clothes, although police said some protesters had changed out of their usual black attire.