Police say a male suspect fired a live round at officers during an arrest operation in Tai Po on Friday night.
One person was subdued whilst a pistol-like object was seized by officers near the Tsui Ping Commercial complex at around 9pm.
The area was cordoned off as the force urged the public to stay away from the area.
A video circulating on the Telegram messaging app shows what appear to be plainclothes police surrounded by residents. “We didn’t fire that round, the police didn’t fire that round,” one of the apparent plainclothes officers says.
Just after 11pm, police fired tear gas to disperse people who had gathered in the aftermath of the incident.
Pushing the crowd further back, riot police dragged Tai Po district councillor-elect Wong Siu-kin out and arrested him.
A policeman then repeatedly hit the camera of a Stand News reporter, while claiming “I’m not hitting you”.
Photo: Stand News screenshot. #hongkong #china pic.twitter.com/UcezL2JJlF
— Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) December 20, 2019
Tai Po District Councillor-elect Wong Siu-king was subdued by police during the fracas.
