Hong Kong extradition bill debate delayed as police reveal they used over 150 rounds of tear gas on protesters
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The debate over Hong Kong's controversial extradition bill that has fueled massive and sometimes violent protests was delayed for a second time on Thursday, as authorities revealed the amount of force to suppress demonstrators.
Stephen Lo, the Hong Kong commissioner of police, said that officers at one point "had no choice but to escalate the use of force to disperse the crowd" during violent clashes on Wednesday.
"The behavior of the violent protesters yesterday imposed a serious threat to the public order," Lo said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Officials disclosed that police used more than 150 rounds of tear gas during Wednesday's clashes, nearly double the amount used in major 2014 protests.
In this file photo taken Wednesday, June 12, 2019, riot police try to disperse protesters with fire tear gas outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
It was the first time that Hong Kong police have used tear gas since that year's huge 79-day pro-democracy "Umbrella Movement" demonstrations, which marked the beginning of a shift to a tougher police approach.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Officers also fired rubber bullets and beanbag rounds, which Lo said other countries deployed as nonlethal methods to quell riots and rebellions, and also used batons, pepper spray, and pepper based solution. Many protesters wore hard hats, masks, plastic wrap and carried umbrellas as protection. Eleven were arrested.
The president of Hong Kong's legislature on Thursday postponed debate on the controversial bill as the city starts the cleanup process, according to the South China Morning Post.
“Members will be notified of the time of the meeting once it is determined by the president,” according to a circular obtained by the paper.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}HUNDREDS PROTEST OUTSIDE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS BEFORE DEBATE ON EXTRADITION LAW
If passed, critics believe the extradition legislation would put Hong Kong residents at risk of being entrapped in China's judicial system, in which opponents of Communist Party rule have been charged with economic crimes or ill-defined national security offenses, and would not be guaranteed free trials.
In this file photo taken Wednesday, June 12, 2019, a cameraman lies injured after riot police fire tear gas on protesters outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
Raymond Chan Chi-chuen, of the pro-democracy party People Power, told the SCMP that government may want to hold off debating the bill under public anger over it begins to subside.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“But it will not work, as long as they don’t retract the bill," he told the paper. "People are ready for further action.”
Hong Kong police have resorted to harsher-than-usual tactics to suppress protesters this week in the city's most violent turmoil in decades. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
Hong Kong's hospital management body said that public hospitals in the city were treating 79 people for protest-related injuries as of Thursday morning. The figures included both civilians and police officers.
China's government said Thursday it supports Hong Kong authorities' handling of massive protests against an extradition bill after police used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets on largely peaceful demonstrators.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the protests in Hong Kong are "not a peaceful rally, but a blatant, organized riot."
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He added that "no civilized society ruled by law will tolerate illegal actions that undermine peace and tranquility."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.