Hong Kong police arrest 589 in weeks-long protests

A total of 589 people were arrested in connection with the weeks-long protests, confirmed Tse Chun-chung, chief superintendent of the Hong Kong Police Public Relations Branch, during a press conference on Wednesday.

Police officers enter the Long Ping Station in the Yuen Long district of the New Territories in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 23, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

Those detained include 460 males and 129 females, aged between 13 and 76, on charges involving rioting and assaulting police officers.

Latest arrests were made on Tuesday, with nine people taken into custody for possession of offensive weapons.

During the press briefing, the police also demonstrated laser guns, which were used by some protesters against police officers, and warned about their severe effects on police's work and health.