Hong Kong police finally owned up that an accidental leak of tear gas was behind the mysterious odor a month ago that left several people sick and sent others scrambling to wash their eyes and faces.

Residents of Lau Fau Shan in the northwest of Hong Kong made two complaints of a pungent odor to the Fire Services Department on June 1. An investigation failed to detect any flammable or toxic gas.

Police said at the time only that “gas for training purposes” was used during a police tactical unit regular training session at the Tsing Shan Firing Range, and that this accidentally spread towards Sheung Pak Nai and Ha Pak Nai near Lau Fau Shan.

However, in a new response to the Legislative Council on June 26, the force admitted the use of tear gas on June 1, and that this may have spread to the Lau Fau Shan area due to the wind.

In the written reply, the police also said that regular anti-riot training — in which tear gas and live rounds would be used — would be held at sites far away from residential areas.

Click here for Chinese version.

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