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62-685: Construction on the building began in 1972. The car park opened for public use on 30 July 1973. The headquarters of the Transport Department relocated to the building in 1974. The Operations Department of the Independent Commission Against Corruption was located in the top floors of the Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park Building from 1978 to 2007. A radio mast was erected on the rooftop in 1978 as part of

124-463: A Reclaim Yuen Long action on 27 July. However, the police issued the Letter of Objection, saying the proposed anti-mob march might 'create serious obstruction to the roads and pose a danger to marchers', after receiving pressure from the rural groups. The applicant announced he would instead walk alone along the originally proposed route and urged people not to follow him. Despite the risk of committing

186-481: A cane at home? Get one, get a longer one. What if you don’t have one at home? Go to a metalware shop, buy a 20mm [diameter] water pipe, and teach your son a lesson. A Yuen Long indigenous resident who also joined the rally vowed "there will be a good play in Yuen Long on 21 July." According to BBC and RFA, the night before 21 July Yuen Long residents were warned by relatives of police against wearing black shirts on

248-526: A chef, who just finished work at a restaurant despite wearing grey, was attacked by gangsters, after saying there were lots of white-shirted men. A taxi was also damaged, apparently by the gang, as four white-shirts surrounded the vehicle. At around 10 pm, these assailants started attacking people on the street. They were reportedly targeting those wearing black clothing, the common clothing for protesters on Hong Kong Island, but also attacked journalists and bystanders. One suspected pregnant woman, wearing

310-400: A dozen men wearing white shirts and carrying metal rods came forward and intimidated reporters; two riot police chatted with two of them and patted one on the shoulder before letting them go. Police then entered the village, brought a white-shirt-wearong man away, but later stated he was not arrested. Around 3:55 am, the white-shirt mob started leaving either in vehicles or by walking around

372-478: A long white dress, was found lying on the floor, but reports of her injuries could not be confirmed by the Hospital Authority. At around 10:30 pm, about a hundred white-shirted assailants appeared at Yuen Long railway station and attacked commuters in the concourse indiscriminately, on the platform and inside train compartments. Two police officers arrived at 10:52 pm. However, they left

434-494: A new HK$ 418,000 radio network facilitating communication with ICAC investigators. In 1979–1980, an elevated walkway was built between the car park building and Queensway Plaza (the shopping centre above Admiralty station ). In the 1990s, the Hong Kong Government Archives were located on the mezzanine floor of the Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park Building. Later in the decade, they were transferred to

496-468: A potential triad attack was about to take place. The police responded by saying that they were also alerted by the news and would deploy sufficient manpower to deal with the situation. Wong, in a radio programme, disclosed that a group of white-shirters assaulted him, but as he approached a group of police officers nearby for protection, the group of police left and drove away. Meanwhile, leaked videos showed that two uniformed police officers had arrived on

558-416: A public meeting to be held on 21 July at Yuen Long. The identity of who first spread the information was disputed. A self-claimed police wife was said to have first posted the poster on Chinese Weibo which was then shared by government supporters. Pro-China media, on the other hand, cited police sources saying the image was published in a Telegram public group an hour earlier than the police wife. Nevertheless,

620-487: A shopping centre next to Yuen Long station, also attempted to call the police but they could not get in touch with them. The police station in Yuen Long shut its gate in response to the hundreds that turned up to report the incident. Overnight, the police set up a perimeter outside Nam Pin Wai Village . Riot police attempted to enter but retreated back to the perimeter as the white shirt mob threw water bottles. Half

682-420: A sit-in protest at Yuen Long station to demand justice and to remember the victims of the mob attacks that had occurred exactly one month prior on 21 July. On the 21st day of each month, citizens staged sit-ins or assemblies in Yuen Long, especially inside Yuen Long station or the neighbouring YOHO Mall . While the police and the government initially recognised that the incident was "violent" and "shocking", as

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744-673: A smile after the attack when asked if he incited so. Patriotic villagers shall never let rioters foment trouble in Yuen Long… must evict them if they come. Four days later Junius Ho of the Legislative Council issued similar warning to protestors over the possible protest in Yuen Long. In a response nearly a year after the attack, Ho said he was only "boasting" sentimentally. … Now they [protestors] are calling for troubles in Yuen Long. Yuen Long shall welcome them. What would happen then? We would greet them. The more they come,

806-661: The 721 incident , refers to a mob attack that occurred in Yuen Long , a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong , on the evening of 21 July 2019. It took place in the context of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests . A mob dressed in white stormed the MTR's Yuen Long station and attacked protesters returning from a demonstration in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island as well as bystanders. Despite over 24,000 calls to

868-426: The 999 emergency hotline , the police arrived 39 minutes after the attacks and one minute after the mobs had left the station. Around 30 non- police tactical unit trained police officers were assigned to standby at Tuen Mun Police Station for contingency. At least 45 people were injured in the incident. The government condemned the violence. There was widespread criticism of the police for its poor response to

930-808: The Government of Hong Kong is a department of the civil service responsible for transportation-related policy in Hong Kong . The department is under the Transport and Logistics Bureau . The Transport Department was created on 1 December 1968 as a separate department within the Hong Kong Government. Prior to 1968 it was assigned to the Transport Office under the Colonial Secretary 's department. The Transport Office

992-698: The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong close to 7:00 pm. Protestors then proceeded to block roads, set objects on fire, throw eggs and black ink at the building and defaced the National Emblem on the building. The rally devolved into a violent clash between the protestors and the police. According to the police, the police force was mainly focused on the public procession on Hong Kong Island, while Yuen Long

1054-531: The Special Tactical Squad , and a standoff occurred inside the station. In the protest, a passenger car near Nam Pin Wai was vandalised by the protesters. Several weapons were discovered in the car that looked the same as the weapons brandished by the white-shirted men in the 21 July attacks, as well as a hat that resembled the uniform of Mainland law enforcement. On 28 July, police arrested

1116-427: The unlawful assembly offence, tens of thousands of people, or 288,000 as the original march applicant estimated, turned up in the town. Many protesters marched on Castle Peak Road . The police fired tear gas in the evening, including near residential areas. The police insisted that the tear gas shot did not affect the seniors living in an elderly home nearby, though photos showed otherwise. Starting from 5 pm,

1178-449: The 30 people who have so far been arrested, some of whom have links to organised crime syndicates, only four individuals have been charged as suspects. Court hearings were scheduled to begin on 25 October. Pro-democratic lawmaker Eddie Chu , representing New Territories West, stated: "Police didn't show up while thugs rampaged through the station and attacked Yuen Long residents indiscriminately last night," concluding that this meant there

1240-495: The Assistant District Commander of Crime in Yuen Long, also stated that the colleagues did not see anyone holding weapons at the area at all. Six men were arrested on 22 July 2019. According to the police, one of the arrested suspects had a triad background. Five more men were arrested on 23 July 2019. On 26 August, two men were charged and held without bail in relation to the Yuen Long attacks. Of

1302-442: The MTR to the police was made at around 10:45 pm. Two police officers then arrived at 10:52 pm and left after risk assessment at scene. At 11:20 pm, 30 officers arrived to provide assistance. The local police call centre received thousands of calls between 10 pm and midnight, and some citizens could not connect to the reporting hotline as the hotlines was jammed by the sudden influx of calls. The management of Yoho Mall ,

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1364-632: The Sun Yik factory building in Tuen Mun . The City Gallery , an exhibition centre about the planning and development of urban areas in Hong Kong, was temporarily located within Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park from 2009 to 2012. In 2017, Henderson Land Development bid successfully to acquire the government-owned commercial plot on which the car park was built. Henderson Land would pay HK$ 23.28 billion (US$ 3 billion) for

1426-676: The Traffic and Transport Branch of the Highways Office of the former Public Works Department. Units that moved to the Transport Department at this time were responsible for traffic engineering, traffic control and surveillance, road safety, and traffic surveys. In 2019, the Transport Department headquarters moved from Immigration Tower to the new West Kowloon Government Offices in Yau Ma Tei . In November 2020, it

1488-483: The Yuen Long attack ... this is what the fourth power is about." In January 2021, the Transportation Department announced a change to the system, where vehicle owners will be notified if their license plate is looked up. Journalists had previously used the tool for investigations, including to discover illegal structures at homes of senior government officials. In response, Carrie Lam defended

1550-469: The actions of Ho. The statement also highlighted the university's respect for freedom of speech. Junius Ho's office in Tsuen Wan was vandalised by the protesters after the attack. A glass partition was broken, as well as leaving memo that "suggested a link between the violent gangs that carried out the attack the previous day and the police force". Protesters also posted anti-government sticky notes on

1612-481: The attackers assaulted the commuters inside the Yuen Long MTR station, the police attempted to reshape the narrative in their favour over the following year. The police force refused to apologise for its slow response, despite recognising that the police's response that day had failed to live up to the public's expectations. After the retirement of Stephen Lo , the new police commissioner, Chris Tang , said that

1674-524: The car owner for possession of weapons. Online rumours arose regarding the identity of a personal name that was found on a bill inside the car, claiming that person was connected to the Liaison Office , which the Liaison Office denied. In April 2022, activist Max Chung was sentenced to 16 months after having pleaded guilty to organising the unauthorized Reclaim Yuen Long protest of 27 July 2019. On 21 August 2019, thousands of demonstrators staged

1736-562: The change, and claimed that "So I really don't see how this would undermine the work of the media, and hence I do not see why the media should be exempted from the administrative procedure that the Transport Department has put in place." The post of Commissioner for Transport ( 署長 ) is currently held by Angela Lee Chung-yan. The Commissioner reports to the Secretary for Transport and Housing . List of commissioners: 2019 Yuen Long attack The 2019 Yuen Long attack , also known as

1798-518: The concurrent anti-government protests on Hong Kong Island had stretched their resources. The following day, contact information for Li had been removed from the government directory, along with removal of the details for 11 other lower-ranking officers from the Yuen Long Division. Yuen Long District Council members including Zachary Wong and Johnny Mak had alerted the police on 20 July after they heard rumours from rural groups that

1860-511: The day of Lam's arrest, further changed the account and said that the incident was a clash "between two evenly matched rivals", alleged that the photo evidence and reporter commentary were "one-sided", and that the attack was not indiscriminate. According to the footage recorded that day, the white-clad attackers had already congregated and attacked pedestrians outside Yuen Long station before Lam had even arrived. Fellow lawmaker, Wu Chi-wai , commenting on Lam's arrest, added that "the prosecution

1922-503: The day, and were told that around 500 triad members, wearing white with red bracelet, will gather at night in Yuen Long targeting black-shirted men, after Yuen Long villages decided to launch an attack. On Sunday 21 July, the CHRF organised a protest from Causeway Bay to Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, with black being the dress code again. Police risk assessment of the procession was relatively high. Around 138,000 people participated in

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1984-461: The exterior wall of his offices in Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun. A group of unknown also vandalised the graves of his parents in Tuen Mun , vandals also left graffiti with words such as "official-triad collusion" and " Shing Wo " (a triad) near the graves, fuelling rumours regarding the background of the vandals. Many shops on the streets and in shopping malls were closed in Yuen Long and

2046-488: The extradition bill praised police as defenders of law and order. On the other hand, there is also the increase of reports alleging that the police have adopted violent strategies against the protesters. On 11 July 2019, Lei Gai-ji, head of the New Territories section of Beijing's liaison office, mobilised villages of Yuen Long to evict protestors during the inauguration ceremony of Shap Pat Heung. He offered only

2108-427: The incident and disputed narrative of the events. As of September 2022, eight assailants have been convicted. Attacked passengers and protestors were later charged with riot as well, with at least one found guilty. Protests against the controversial extradition bill had been going on since March 2019. Most of the demonstrations in the days were turned into clashes. On the one hand, government supporters who favoured

2170-439: The incident only became heated when lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting arrived at the station stirring up the confrontation. The police's account aligned with that of Junius Ho's and pro-Beijing group's accusation that Lam intentionally stirred up the conflict, intensified the tense atmosphere and eventually caused a "fight". Superintendent Kong Wing-cheung later echoed Tang's statement, saying that the attack started because "a group" had led

2232-436: The incidents were a "normal reaction to protesters who brought violence to the peaceful community after they stormed the liaison office" and also praised them for "safeguarding" their district. The Law Society , of which Ho was once president, said it had received "quite a number of complaints" and is "seriously looking into" calls for disciplinary action against Ho and "conducting reviews on relevant complaints, and will pass

2294-478: The majority in the popular LIHKG forum backed the protest by Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) in Hong Kong Island, instead of protesting in Yuen Long. The controversial report by Independent Police Complaints Council concluded that there were online posts "calling for people to 'Liberate Yuen Long' and to take part in a public meeting to be held in Yuen Long on 21 July in protest against those disrupting

2356-498: The matter to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal if necessary." A number of student bodies and alumni associations had openly condemned both his suspected support of the attack, and what they described as his hate speech which had damaged the image of Lingnan University . The university issued a statement afterwards, in which it denied that there was any connection between the stance of university and

2418-506: The neighbouring towns Tuen Mun, Tin Shui Wai and Tsuen Wan on 22 July 2019. Rumours spread online warned that there would be more violence on that day. Many companies allowed employees who live in the districts to leave work early that day. Some schools in the district cancelled their afternoon activities. Leisure and cultural facilities in Yuen Long operated by government closed early out of public safety considerations. A news conference

2480-406: The offence of misconduct in public office under the common law. On 21 January 2020, eight people injured in the attack, including lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, announced that they had filed a lawsuit against the police force, demanding HK$ 2.7 million in compensation; Lam stated that the lawsuit had been filed to seek "justice for the victims and for Hong Kong". In various videos posted online, it

2542-608: The ones attacked in Yuen Long station". An MTR spokesman said station staff saw disputes taking place at about 10:45 pm and contacted police within two minutes. However, the police officers only arrived at around 11:15 pm, when the mob was gone, despite receiving many other citizens' call to 999 for help. Residents also reported being ignored and treated rudely by 999 responders, who claimed they "should stay at home if they are afraid". Upon arrival, police were surrounded by dozens of angry residents and protesters who accused police of deliberately retreating after being called to

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2604-686: The plot. The Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park ceased operation at midnight on 30 April 2017. By the time of its closure, the car park was providing 388 public parking spaces for private cars and 55 for motorcycles. After official closure, the car park reopened for a few months in late 2017. In January 2018, it was closed again. Demolition started in March and was completed in May that year. 22°16′49″N 114°09′44″E  /  22.280178°N 114.162136°E  / 22.280178; 114.162136 Transport Department The Transport Department of

2666-470: The police fired canisters of tear gas upon protesters near Sai Pin Wai village and Nam Pin Wai Village, while protesters hurled objects in return. While MTR had arranged special trains in Long Ping station to help protesters to leave Yuen Long, riot police began dispersing protestors at around 7:30 pm, using batons and rubber bullets. Protesters fleeing to Yuen Long station were followed by

2728-417: The police's perimeter, none were stopped or questioned by the police. As the mob left, police confiscated dozens of wooden sticks and steel rods in the car park, though no arrests were made as they claimed they "saw no one holding weapons" and "noticed nothing criminal" in the village and claimed they could not determine the identity of the white-shirted mobsters as "wearing white shirt did not mean they would

2790-611: The procession organised by CHRF. Like most other processions since 1 July, it started peacefully but erupted into violent clashes between protesters and the Police outside the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG) in Western District from around 18:30. Many protestors, however, did not stop at the designated end point at Luard Road in Wan Chai, and continued to walk in the direction of Sheung Wan arriving at

2852-479: The protesters to Yuen Long, though he later backtracked by saying that it was only his "personal observation". The Independent Police Complaints Council , which was controlled by pro-Beijing individuals, concluded the Yuen Long attack had been a "gang fight". Lam Cheuk-ting was arrested on 26 August 2020 for "rioting" for showing up in Yuen Long station on 21 July 2019, in addition to another non-violence related charge pertaining to events of 6 July 2019. The police, on

2914-670: The quicker you [Yuen Long villages] should act, and wipe them out. On the evening of 16 July, it was reported that some local protestors had held a public screening of video clips on the alleged police brutality in public order events at the Fung Yau Street North Sitting-out Area. Towards the end of the screening, several people dressed in white confronted the group in black. Local councillor claimed some of those in white shirt were triad members. Soon after, there were online posts calling for people to " Liberate Yuen Long " ( 光復元朗 ) and to take part in

2976-410: The scene but then left the station. Police responded that the two policemen had backed off and called for help as they considered that they did not have the equipment to deal with armed crowds. Many also criticised the fact that police stations in the vicinity of the Yuen Long attacks shut their doors, despite a large group of residents who were there to report crimes. Police replied that the shut-down

3038-531: The scene for the first assault. It was revealed by RTHK that the police had sent plainclothes officers to monitor the situation prior to the attack, but they did not intervene despite the fact that some of the white-clad men were carrying weapons in front of him. Police commander Li Hon-man, who was interviewed at the scene by journalists, was asked why police had arrived late. He was recorded on video saying "I don't know if we were late" and claimed to not have looked at his watch. Police said later that dealing with

3100-595: The screening on 16 July; and in response online posts urged Yuen Long residents to "protect their homeland and to expel protesters with warnings of potential violence targeted at protesters". During the "safeguard Hong Kong" rally of the pro-China camp condemning violence during protests and showing support for police, Arthur Shek Kang-chuen, co-founder of Hong Kong Economic Times , called for action against violent protesters, likening it to disciplining children. You should say no to those masked, black-shirted men. They have weapons, umbrellas. We can't use sticks. Do you have

3162-441: The station as they judged that they were outnumbered by the assailants and did not have sufficient gear, according to the police. Thirty police officers arrived at the station at 11:20 pm, but the assailants had left. Due to the violence, trains bypassed Yuen Long station between 10:56 pm and 11:19 pm, and the station was ordered closed at 11:55 pm. However, after midnight, white-shirted assailants forced open

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3224-416: The station's shutters to launch a second wave of attacks on passengers. In all, at least 45 citizens were reported injured that night, including Legislative Council member Lam Cheuk-ting and two reporters; one other journalist had their equipment smashed. Citizens made calls to the emergency hotline upon seeing the armed group assembling at around 7:00 pm, and an MTR spokesman said the first call by

3286-592: Was "clear collusion between police and the gangs." Triad gangsters were previously linked to attacks on democracy activists in Mong Kok during the 2014 Umbrella Movement. At that time, police were similarly accused of not responding in a timely manner and criticised for allowing attacks to occur. Stephen S.N. Char, barrister and former chief investigator of the Independent Commission Against Corruption , indicated that intentional negligence by police officers who refused to offer public services might have committed

3348-434: Was for safety reasons due to large groups of protesters surrounding the stations. After blocking entrances to the area for more than three hours, the police made no arrests. When queried, the police explained that it could not be confirmed that those in white were the ones who participated in the violence and that the police were unable to record the identities of those in white because of their large numbers. Yau Nai-keung,

3410-476: Was found guilty, and in response, the Journalists Association said that press freedom was being undermined, stating "Today will be remembered and must be remembered in history... a reporter in Hong Kong who conducted vehicle searches to find out more about the Yuen Long attacks demonstrated the role of the media as a watchdog. The relentless effort of the journalist to find out the whole truth of

3472-531: Was founded in 1965 within the Colonial Secretariat, initially with a staff of 23. The office was set up in response to the territory's worsening traffic problems, and was modelled after the systems in Britain and other Commonwealth countries, with the new department taking responsibility for vehicle registration and driver licensing. In 1968, it was spun off as a separate government department, and

3534-700: Was held on 24 July by six people who were attacked and had decided to come forward with their stories. Several people in the group, including lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, stated they may appeal for financial compensation of damages in a court of law and file suite against the police and the MTR Corporation. Lam also said that his political party would assist any others who wish to press charges and seek redress. Protests originally planned on 27 and 28 July in Hung Hom - To Kwa Wan , Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong Islands West were rescheduled or postponed to make way for

3596-409: Was linked to the attacks. But in a video Ho posted on his Facebook page early on 21 July morning, Ho, who lives in Yuen Long, said he came across the group of men in white shirts on the street and took a picture with them. Ho said he did not know anything about the attack when greeting them, and the meeting was before the incident. However, he also defended the mob at a press conference by saying that

3658-431: Was manned on a "skeleton" basis. In the afternoon, assailants wearing white shirts and armed with sticks and wooden poles gathered in Yuen Long , while a pro-government Facebook page shared a photo of them saying "the villages are ready" and about to "discipline" the protestors. Yuen Long District Councillor reported to police over the possible confrontation, police in response claimed officers were deployed. By 10 pm,

3720-497: Was observed that Junius Ho , a Hong Kong politician and a member of the Legislative Council , greeted a group of white-clothed group men, shaking their hands and calling them "heroes", giving them thumbs-up and saying to them "thank you for your hard work." At least one of the white-clothed men who shook hands with Ho has been shown to have been inside Yuen Long station during the attacks, leading to allegations that Ho

3782-701: Was renamed as the Transport Department. In 1974, the department's headquarters moved from the Blake Block on Queensway to the new Murray Road Multi-storey Car Park Building . Around the same time, the department's Chinese name changed from " 交通事務處 " to " 運輸署 " to avoid confusion with the similar Chinese name of the Traffic Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police . The department's role expanded significantly in April 1982, when it absorbed

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3844-501: Was reported that in 2019, the Transport Department changed one option of vehicle license plate searches from "others" to "other traffic and transport related matters," eliminating the ability of reporters to conduct license plate searches. Because of the change, RTHK reporter Bao Choy was charged with violating the Road Traffic Ordinance while producing a documentary on the 2019 Yuen Long attacks . In April 2021, Bao

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