The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today the appeals made by most demonstrators on 1 May were rational and proper: but a few had a political motive that led to the disturbance. Mr Ho said people have the right to express their views by demonstrating, but their actions should not disrupt social order and affect the rights of other law abiding citizens. Demonstrators should proceed lawfully and abide by the guidelines given by the security agencies. He said the government paid special attention to the people’s views expressed lawfully, and would answer them proactively. Regarding last Tuesday’s incident when an officer fired warning shots into the air during a demonstration, Mr Ho said the shooting was neither a means to suppress the demonstration nor was it an order made by a senior police official. The shooting was an on-the-scene judgment of the situation made by the officer to prevent demonstrators from trampling on one another, as some people at the front of the crowd had started to fall at the time. Frontline police officers dealing with demonstrations are not allowed to carry firearms, whereas back-up officers are armed, said Mr Ho. He said an internal investigation had begun into an incident, including a review of how demonstrations would be handled in the future. Mr Ho said the Government was highly concerned about the passer-by who was hit by a stray bullet and expressed his sympathy. The police had acted appropriately to help prevent what could have been a worser situation, he added.
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