Bullets aimed at heads, fire first & then disperse - Review of Police's new strategy on 12 June

Bullets aimed at heads, fire first & then disperse - Review of Police's new strategy on 12 June

Translated by HKCT, written by Kwan Chun-hoi
Original: Kwan Chun-hoi's Medium 

"What a pleasure to see that! I thought we only fired during training. That’s real! There it is! (laughs) And I would not allow a “2.0” version to happen." In a video recorded within the police force as obtained by Apple Daily, a police officer seemed to be proud of firing, who "will not allow Umbrella Movement 2.0 to happen", talked with a sense of mission. 

Police and members of the public hold opposite views on firing. I stayed at the scene for 8 hours (10 am-6 pm) on 12 June and could give an analysis on the tactics employed by the Police in dealing with mass movement which was conspicuously different from the recent years. But the first question to be asked, both from the Hongkongers and Police, why firing came first? 

Police were facing the same situation as in the umbrella movement that 5,000 police officers were way less than tens of thousands of Hongkongers. From 3:30pm to 4pm, the force employed a baiting tactic. Front line police officers purposely did not wear gas masks, which projected an illusion of them being slack. Two inspectors in white uniform were assigned in each spot. The message of "no clearance today" was also disseminated to the lawmakers, which further soothed the tension. When protesters were lured into the LegCo Complex, tons of tear gas were fired. Flooded rapidly were special tactical squads hidden inside the Complex, as well as masked police officers with waving batons. 

To fire first and then disperse was the deployment of police and the main direction used to clear the scene on 12 June. What's more, firing (such as rubber bullets and bean bag rounds) was aimed at heads, while tear gas canisters were hurled on bodies. 

Fire first and then disperse -- The followings were my observation near the LegCo public protest area from 3pm to 4pm: 

Protest at midday on 12 June was peaceful. Police had once said that there was no plan to "clear the scene for the time being". Some secondary school students in uniform, office ladies and white-collar workers from Central arrived at the scene to show support to the protest. There were church members lined up in front of the police officers singing hymns incessantly. No violence was foreseen. 

The calm ambience at 3pm in the public protest area became tense at near 4pm, when it was learnt that clashes started on Tim Mei Avenue. Police received news at 4pm that protesters were planning to occupy the LegCo. 

Protesters charged the Police cordon line. Without any warning and under the instruction from an inspector, the police fired bean bag rounds at protesters by an officer holding a Remington shotgun. During the clashes, there were protesters hurling a few pieces of bricks, around two to three. The inspector picked up the bricks and roared at the protesters, "Are you hurling bricks? Are you hurling bricks?" From what I saw at the scene, there were not many bricks. The shout of "Are you hurling bricks?" from police was more an order to their colleagues for the sake of recording rather than a warning to the protesters. Would it be an indication of "shoot once hurled"? 

Another angle at the public protest area: Police officers rushed out to strike protesters

Police fired the first tear gas when officers without gas masks were forced to back off to the corner. Then the riot squads lurked inside the Legco Building flocked in to disperse the crowd by batons. Former Commissioner of Police TSANG Wai-hung had once explained that the use of tear gas was for dispersing the crowd, but the operation this time was obviously to fire first and disperse afterwards. This is completely different from either the operation conducted during the Umbrella Movement in 2014 that "Disperse the crowd first" or the common ways used internationally. 

Back to 1989 Govt prevents treachery 

I believed that "This is an ORDER" to take a group photo of the police officers next to the patrol car before the operation. The photo could be sent within police WhatsApp groups for showing their loyalty, recognising their faces and implementing stringently the accountability system, in case "treacherous" officers refused to shoot at the scene. With the headshot taken, any uncooperative officers can be tried publicly within Police. I witnessed the first shot at the public protest area. 

The inspector made an order to the police officer, who was holding a gun and without a mask, next to his ear. Once the first shot was fired, other police officers would be relieved of a burden and become obedient soldiers who can forget the criminal responsibility of shooting at people's heads. That was why police officers were boasting that they would not allow a second umbrella movement as they have obviously been brain-washed. I believe that even Commissioner Stephen LO Wai-chung was well aware that once there were over 30,000 to 50,000 people around the LegCo, and the Police could only resort to weapons and tear gas for clearance. 

In 1989, Xu Qinxian, the army commander of the Beijing 38th Group Army, applied for leave. Sympathizing the citizens, the troops could not clear the scene when they entered the city. DENG Xiaoping worried the morale of the troops and therefore cut off their communications. Soldiers could only wait for instructions at the camps. In 2019, rumours saying that there are opposing voices to the "Fugitive Extradition Bill" at the senior level within the Government. The Government Headquarters was closed for two days. Police officers successively quit from friend WhatsApp groups and fired feverishly in the city. The police force is now out of control. Pro-Beijing camp went against the will of a million of people by keeping silent and trying their very best to attend the meeting. ExCo member Bernard Chan even implied the deployment of the People's Liberation Army, which was however ultimately denied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Protesters were clad in white and then black, finally turned into red. Say hello to 1989. 

[4 June 2019] Owan Li: Giving Up Is Our Heaviest Price to Pay

Giving Up Is Our Heaviest Price to Pay

By Owan Li, Council Member (April 2018-April 2020) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University [Social Policy and Administration, Year 3]

in front of Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 4 June 2019

各位在場朋友大家好。

「以銅為鏡，可以正衣冠；以古為鏡，可以知興替；以人為鏡，可以明得失。」今日我們一同來到尖沙咀一同紀念三十年前在不遠的他方，我們可以清晰地看到極權政府的暴行。所以今日的六四悼念集會，除了紀錄當日猝然而逝的往生者以外，亦令我們一眾港人明白到歷史教會我們的事情。學習歷史，除了可以增廣見聞，也可以教曉我們不要重蹈覆轍，今日在網路上回顧這些年來的紀錄片和照片，可見極權政府對付平民百姓的手段殘暴不仁、令人扼腕。因此，回望這段歷史，我們必需要時刻警惕，極權政府正在我們的鄰近之處蠢蠢欲動、張牙舞爪。

「香港人這個身份，在這幾年特別艱難，但我相信我們每一位，都有為這個地方感到自豪，因為我們真的很喜歡這個地方，我作為香港人的一份子，對於香港日漸沉淪，慢慢不再是我們熟悉的地方，除了嘆息，亦只有難過。我選擇了在不同的身份上，都要捍衛香港人這個身份，作為今日這一代的學生領袖，彷如與三十年前蒙難的往生者身影重疊。慶幸今天我仍活在香港，雖然不致於生命受到威脅，但一九九七年主權移交以來，香港人的正常生活早已面目全非。雖然在理大民主牆事年當中，我需要履行120小時社會服務令，但事實上在香港不同的角落，早已有不同的香港人身陷囹圇成為年輕世代的政治犯，相比之下120小時的社會服務令簡直微不足道，更遑論當日死傷無數的犧牲者，魂魄早就刻在我們在場每一個人的腦海之中。歷史的教晦，就是要我們面對極權的統治，除了要保留實力、小心應對之外，亦要時刻防範不要鬆懈。

歷史，是勝利者編寫時代輝煌見證的書目。今年《環球時報》指出六四「事件」是已褪色的歷史事件，放下它有助國家走出陰影避免分歧，幫助所有中國人面對未來、對動亂可以免疫。此等評論只為抹黑歷史、愚弄群眾。

但我希望在場各位，不要忘記歷史給過我們沉痛與淚水帶來血的教訓，因為只有銘記歷史，我們才能發創未來。今日的香港，有人說要忘記過去，我對此不敢苟同，因為學習歷史的意義，除了要令我們知道以前的事件之外，亦可以從過去的大小事上找到了世界行走的軌跡，在座每一位都明白到只有認識到極權政府的過去、面對殺人政權的暴行，更有效可以為我們疏理好未來鬥智鬥力的籌碼，必需要步步為營，他日終究都會是我們在場各位自主未來。

有人認為，明知不可為而為之，是一種極致的無知，但是歷史沒有如果、只有教訓，若然我們能夠保留實力，他日定能勇者無懼。只要我們永不放棄，勝利定當站在我們一方。

今日六月四日，三十年過去了，中共政權在本質從來沒有絲毫的改變。今日的香港更是變本加厲，如今逃犯條例修訂案猶如每個港人頸邊的利刃，吾等眾人活在人心惶惶的恐懼當中。

放棄，才是我們的最大代價。

雖然未來的日子，早就可以預見我們的生活將會遇上更大的艱難。但希望在這裡希望鼓勵各位，只要有我們、這裡才是我們的香港。

各位，無論如何都要堅持。

因為我們都是香港人。

[Li's speech in English; edited for grammatical reasons; explanations in italic]

Good evening everybody.

Learning from history is about learning the lesson of our life in our modern society. Today, we are coming to Tsim Sha Tsui, commemorating 30 years ago - it's not quite far away - in Beijing, Tian'anmen Square. We can clearly find that the government of the Communist Party in China already showed the dictatorship to the citizens. It's actually - today's event - not only have to recall the dead victims in China, we also learn the history, learn the lesson of today's Hong Kong. We should have the self-determination of our destiny, and also we should learn the lesson from history.

Today, in Hong Kong, the government already showed us the dominance, the hegemony - not only because of the sovereignty problem but also they do not treasure Hong Kong people. Today, in Hong Kong, the identity of Hong Kong people is extremely difficult. To uphold the identity of Hong Kong people, we should be proud of it. Because this identity is unique. No one can replace [us].

However, we can see that every day in Hong Kong, we have sad news. Teenagers, or our next generation, have no hope - they even committed suicide. They think that they cannot find their future. However, when we learn from history, we can find that the Communist Party in China already showed us - when we escape, they will do more. We are now living in danger. As a student leader in Hong Kong, and I am still the student council member of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, although the punishment [received by Li regarding his protest against the Polytechnic's decision to forbid the students using the democracy wall at campus] is 120 hours of community service order, compared to that, 30 years ago, they sacrificed their lives, their destiny, their future. Compared to that, it [Li's punishment] seems to be nothing.

History is written by winners instead of losers. So, we have to uphold the identity of Hong Kong people. We have to be our own winner. We never forget, we never forgive.

Last but not least, in the future, it will be predicted that our lives, society, the community will encounter more difficulties. I would like to express that we never give up, because, in the world, we are Hong Kong people. Only we are Hong Kong people to uphold Hong Kong's rights. Thank you.

[4 June 2019] Joey Siu: Unite regardless of generation and protest on 9 June

Unite regardless of generation and protest on 9 June

By Joey Siu, Acting External Vice President of Provisional Executive Committee of the City University of Hong Kong Students' Union
in front of Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 4 June 2019

大家好，我係香港城市大學學生會臨時行政委員會署理外務副會長邵嵐。

三十年前嘅北京，一眾中國學生主導發起咗要求中共政府正視社會問題，建設民主中國嘅八九民運。然而，數以萬計嘅學生對民主自由嘅渴求不但得唔到政府嘅重視，更加換嚟咗6月4日凌晨嘅屠城慘劇。冰冷嘅坦克車徹底粉碎咗莘莘學子對民主自由，對公義嘅希望。

三十年後嘅香港，中共政權一次又一次肆意妄為咁想摧毀香港嘅核心價值。由否定梁天琦參選資格到褫奪四位民選議員議席，人大釋法、到今日，中共試圖藉修訂逃犯條例徹底摧毀香港嘅法治，將我地嘅家園變成中共政權下嘅一個城市。

關於六四，近年嚟經常聽到老一輩批評年輕人唔出席支聯會舉辦嘅六四燭光晚會。作為一個香港人，我都選擇唔出席支聯會嘅燭光晚會，建設民主中國並非一眾生於斯，長於斯嘅香港人要承擔嘅責任。即使拋開身份認同而言，痴心妄想咁要求一個如此血腥嘅政權去平反三十年前嘅過失，還人民民主自由更加係天方夜譚。

但係，我仍然選擇悼念六四。作為一個學生，我希望藉悼念六四中犧牲嘅學生，時刻警醒自己，香港而家面對緊嘅，係一個幾咁橫蠻嘅政權。作為一個學生領袖，我希望藉悼念六四話比更多人聽，特別係已經唔可以再從課本上完整咁了解六四事件，更年輕嘅一代知，究竟中共有幾殘暴不仁。

五十年大限過去未夠一半，但中共已經迫不及待赤化香港，香港人一直引以為傲嘅法治精神，自由民主可謂經已蕩然無存；而家，就連最基本嘅集會自由，言論自由都岌岌可危。

港共強推送中惡法，我唔知道我哋下年仲可唔可以喺同一地方悼念六四。喺德國流亡嘅黃台仰為紐約時報撰文時話「送中惡法通過，香港將會死亡」。香港危急存亡之際，我哋更加要銘記歷史比我哋嘅教訓，無論老一輩定係年輕一代都應該放低成見，團結反抗惡法。

香港人，6月9號，我哋維園見。

Hello everyone, I am Joey Siu, the Acting External Vice President of Provisional Executive Committee of the City University of Hong Kong Students' Union.

So, first I have to apologize for not having an English version of my speech. But what I want to say is, we all should remember the June 4th movement. We all should remember how cruel can the Chinese government be. No one can save us - only we Hongkongers can save ourselves. As a Hongkonger, as a student, as a student leader, I am willing to voice out for my country, for my homeland. So, 9 June, let's meet at Victoria Park, thank you.

------

(The following is the translation of her Cantonese speech.)

Hello everyone, I am Joey Siu, the Acting External Vice President of Provisional Executive Committee of the City University of Hong Kong Students' Union.

Three decades ago, in Beijing, lots of Chinese students had led the movement in 1989, demanding the CCP government to face squarely to the problems in society and to build a democratic China. Yet, the desire for democracy and freedom by tens of thousands of students was neglected by the government and ended up in a tragedic slaughter in the early hours on 4 June 1989. Cold tanks completely crushed students' hope for democracy, freedom and justice.

Three decades later, in Hong Kong, the CCP regime has time and again showed its fervent desire to destroy the core values of Hong Kong. From disqualifying Edward Leung's candidacy to disqualifying the seats of four elected lawmakers, from NPCSC's Basic Law interpretation to what is happening now - utterly tarnishing the rule of law in Hong Kong by trying to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance (FOO). They want our homeland to become a city under the CCP regime.

In recent years, we can often hear criticisms from people of the older generation about youngsters not attending the candlelight vigil in Victoria Park. As a Hongkonger, I choose not to attend the one in Victoria Park by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China. To build a democratic China is not a responsibility on the shoulders of Hongkongers, who are born and bred here. Putting aside identity issue - fantasizing a brutal regime to vindicate the mistake it made three decades ago and allow democracy and freedom is simply ridiculous.

Still, I choose to commemorate June 4th. As a student, I hope to alert myself the barbarism of the regime Hong Kong is now facing by remembering those sacrificed students in Beijing. As a student leader, I hope to tell more people - especially the younger generation who can no longer learn about the incident completely from textbooks - how brutal the CCP is.

Half of the deadline of "unchanged 50 years" has passed, yet the CCP has an urge to turn Hong Kong red. The rule of law, which Hongkongers are proud of, as well as freedom and democracy, can be described as "it's over". And now, the freedom of assembly - the most fundamental right - is in jeopardy.

The CCP wants to steamroller the draconian FOO amendment. I do not know whether we can commemorate June 4th at the same place next year. Ray Wong, now in exile in Germany, wrote on New York Times that if the FOO amendment is passed, Hong Kong will be dead. At this critical moment of Hong Kong, we should remember the lessons from history. Regardless of older or younger generation, we should put our differences aside and unite to oppose this draconian law.

Hongkongers, let's meet at Victoria Park on 9 June.