Statement of the Hong Kong Bar Association on the Use of Force by the Hong Kong Police at Harcourt Road on 28 September 2014
1. The Hong Kong Bar Association ("HKBA") is deeply disturbed by, and deplores and condemns, the excessive and disproportionate use of force by the Hong Kong Police on demonstrators gathering at Harcourt Road in the afternoon of 28 September 2014.
2. The circumstances in which the Hong Kong Police commenced the use of CS gas on demonstrators gathering at Harcourt Road in the afternoon of 28 September 2014 were well documented in the local and international media. Even though on occasions, a minority of demonstrators became confrontational with the police, the overwhelming majority of the demonstrators were visibly conducting themselves peacefully. Many demonstrators were young students. There had also been widespread reports of absence of display of visual signs before the use of CS gas.
3. There can be scope for disagreement on the underlying political debate or demands leading to the demonstration. Some demonstrators may have committed criminal offences during the course of the demonstration. However, none of the above matters can justify the use of excessive or disproportionate force by the Police against unarmed civilians as a matter of law and common decency. Even after giving due allowance to the professional judgment of the police force in the maintenance of public order and the prevention of public disorder in a difficult and delicate situation, the HKBA still considers that there was plainly no justification to commence the use of CS gas against peaceful demonstrators, let alone repeated, systematic, indiscriminate and excessive use of CS gas. The escalation in the use of force by the Hong Kong police in such circumstances was uncalled for, disproportionate, excessive and had unnecessarily aggravated public feelings of resentment and frustration.
Dated 29 September 2014
HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION
大批佔中示威者連續第二日佔據港九多處鬧市的主要幹道，今日入夜後，參與集會的人數愈來愈多。在金鐘夏慤道一帶，經過昨日示威者與警方的「激戰」後，今日情況大致平靜，逾萬示威者全日守候，入夜放工後，到來參與集會的市民愈來愈多，集會人士揮動手機燈，表達對真普選的訴求。
而在銅鑼灣，大約2千名示威者繼續佔據崇光百貨對開的道路，人數入夜後同樣有增無減，不少市民放工後到場靜坐。崇光百貨要提早於黃昏6時關門停止營業，崇光平日周日至周四一般會營業到晚上10時。另外位處附近一帶的商舖，例如周大福、周生生、莎莎百貨及余仁生等則全日關門，休業一天。
在中環，皇后像廣場對出的來回行車線已全被示威者佔據，他們在附近位置以兩重鐵馬及水馬布防，亦設有物資補給站，有系統地分發物資，氣氛尚算和平。
而在九龍，旺角彌敦道與亞皆老街交界，同樣人頭湧湧，參與集會的市民入夜後有增無減。
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