Hong Kong police said today tear gas was deployed "87 times" in clashes with pro-democracy protesters as they defended their controversial use of force against crowds in the usually stable city.
Assistant Commissioner Cheung Tak-keung said tear gas was used at nine different locations yesterday, although he did not clarify whether multiple canisters of gas were used on each occasion.
"The use of force is used in a situation when we have no other alternatives," he told a press conference, adding officers felt compelled to fire canisters when "police cordon lines were heavily charged by some protesters".
