Authorities say they have intelligence that some hardcore protesters are intent on murdering police officers.
"With the increase in the intensity and the extent of violence over the past three months there are apparent signs that hardcore violence will escalate in the near future. All acts are one step closer to terrorism.
"He appealed to people not to take part in any unauthorised rallies. A rally organised by the Civil Human Rights Front which expected to draw at least 200,000 people was banned by police on safety grounds. But the police warned that they believe protesters will try to initiate events in all 18 city districts.They showed reporters a catalogue of pictures which showed protesters attacking government structures and police with rocks and petrol bombs. The chief superintendent held up a shattered police riot shield as a demonstration of the aggression they're facing. But out on the streets in front of Mong Kok police station there is very little sympathy for the police and a lot of anger and resentment towards them.Live pictures broadcast by Sky News and numerous other channels over the weekend showed a series of brutal arrests. A total of 157 people were arrested, and at one stage on Queensway the road looked like a war zone with numerous young people in stages of distress - wounded, bleeding, receiving oxygen and a number appearing to be unconscious after being apprehended.Several were filmed being beaten after arrest. One was photographed with his hands tied behind him and an officer using his back as a gun mount. Another officer was snapped laughing after apparently spraying a journalist in the face. The reporters asked a string of questions accusing the police of excessive force - and highlighted the shooting of an Indonesian journalist.Veby Indah was in a group of reporters on a footbridge covering the events on Sunday and watching as police retreated from protesters who were throwing objects at them. In the footage filmed by her and others, the police can be seen going down some stairs watched by the journalists. There are no protesters in sight at this point. Many of the reporters, including Ms Indah are wearing neon vests with"PRESS" marked on them. She told the South China Morning Post:"Someone shouted: 'Don't shoot. We're journalists'. But the police shot." The rubber bullet hit her in the face. She's believed to be lodging a complaint against the police and has consulted lawyers. We met some hardcore protesters who told us of plans to launch firebomb attacks at government structures"to start". He would not go into further details but insisted if necessary he, personally, was prepared to die for this cause.There is little sympathy for the police out on the streets It's a measure of the passion felt by many Hong Kongers who fear China's creeping authoritarianism in the territory. What started out as a rebellion against the extradition bill has now turned into a fight for democracy, human rights and defiance against what many perceive as a growing police crackdown. Chief Superintendent Tse pleaded with the protesters to ditch their plans for mayhem saying:"It's high time to halt all forms of violence or else these hardcore rioters will push Hong Kong to the verge of extreme danger." He went on:"Stop charging at police officers; stop starting fires; stop assaulting innocent citizens and stop damaging public properties." But those words are unlikely to stop people coming out on the Hong Kong streets - and the city is waiting, nervously to see what happens.
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