Rioters attack the police in Causeway Bay area of south China's Hong Kong, Aug. 31, 2019. (Xinhua)
The Hong Kong Court of First Instance has approved the police's application for an injunction order to curb escalating violence and harassment against the living quarters of the police officers.
The Hong Kong police have become a major target of attacks by rioters in the months-long unrest.
Police said in a statement on Tuesday that the move is to ensure the safety of police officers and their families residing in the quarters for disciplined services and married police.
The injunction restrains unlawfully acts including blocking roads linking the quarters, damaging facilities, entering without authorisation, projecting laser beams, spot or flash light onto the quarters, as well as incitement of such acts.
Since August, there have been repeated cases in which large crowds surrounded the quarters to target police officers and their families, with the level of violence escalating in recent weeks to cause severe facility damages and even mental distress, according to the statement.
For instance, it said on Oct. 5, six petrol bombs, two paint bombs, two acid bombs and other hard objects were hurled into the Sheung Shui Police Married Quarters.
It also noted "the risk of reoccurrence of the above vandalism and storming act is deemed extremely high" considering the malicious remarks in social media.
The Hong Kong police, long accredited for their professionalism, have endured increasing violent attacks by rioters, who hurled fire bombs at officers, beat up lone officers, doxxed their families, and in an alarming case slashed the neck of an officer.
On Sunday evening, a remote-controlled homemade bomb was detonated to target police officers who were clearing roadblocks set up by rioters in Kowloon. Fortunately, no injury was reported.
