Political groups for and against a proposed pro-police law set up booths in Central on Sunday under heavy police presence.
Dozens from both sides gathered at the busy shopping area around Theatre Lane, bidding for public support.
The protests stem from a proposal of criminalising the act of insulting on a police officer on duty.
Pro-Beijing groups Alliance in Support of our Police Force and Justice Alliance, led by anti-occupy activist Leticia Lee, ran a petition in favour of the proposal outside Gap.
Petition booth for the Alliance in Support of our Police Force and Justice
The group believes such a law would “maintain security and law and order” and protect the next generation against “brainwashing”.
They pledged their support for the police and vowed to “use the fearless spirit of the police as example”, and “never surrender to any oppressing forces”.
Lee later urged voters to oust pro-democratic lawmakers in the upcoming Legislative Council elections.
Mr. Chow, a bystander in his 60s, however, said the law should not be passed.
“It’s not a matter of respecting authorities. It makes no sense to secure those already in power”, he said. “The law should be safeguarding the ordinary citizens; protecting those authorities is absurd.”
Anti-establishment group Civic Passion set up its booth just 50 metres away at the back door of Abercrombie & Fitch, where members took it in turns to deliver speeches.
The police did not have to intervene in the activities of either party.
“If this law is passed, then Hong Kong will become a true totalitarian state,” one activist said. “This will make Hong Kong more authoritarian, more dictatorial, and will undermine our freedom of speech.”
Another activist expressed his concern that the definition of “insult” will be determined by the officer in question. “If you criticise an officer in whatever context, that itself could be an insult,” he stressed.
The group views such legislation as unnecessary, claiming the police already possess a enough power and authority.
“We criticise the police is because we hope they will improve. There should be no law to protect those in power”, he insists.
The controversy started in 2013 where a pro-Beijing party proposed to address “provocative behaviours against police officers in public meetings” during a Legislative Council panel.
Pro-Beijing groups have since lobbied for a law against nominally insulting police officers to be realised.
Photos: Thomas Chan/Coconuts Media
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