Hong Kong Protesters Defy Ban, Get in Fresh Clashes with Police
Protesters lit fires, threw petrol bombs and attacked the parliament building. A number of people were later held as they fled into metro stations.
Hong Kong riot Police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse crowds as tens of thousands marched in the city, defying a ban.
Officers also fired live warning shots as they tried to clear the streets.
Protesters lit fires, threw petrol bombs and attacked the parliament building. A number of people were later held as they fled into metro stations.
Saturday’s event to mark five years since China ruled out fully democratic elections was banned in Hong Kong.
Last Friday, several key pro-democracy activists and lawmakers in China’s special administrative region were arrested.
The protest movement grew out of rallies against a controversial extradition bill - now suspended - which would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial.
What happened on Saturday?
Protesters took to the streets in the Wan Chai district, many joining a Christian march, while others demonstrated in the Causeway Bay shopping district in the pouring rain. Many carried umbrellas and wore face masks.
On the 13th weekend of protests, demonstrators - chanting “stand with Hong Kong” and “fight for freedom” - gathered outside government offices, the local headquarters of China’s People’s Liberation Army and the city’s parliament, known as the Legislative Council.
In the Admiralty district, some protesters threw fire bombs towards officers. Earlier, protesters marched near the official residence of embattled leader Carrie Lam, who is the focal point of much of the anger.
The riot Police had erected barriers around key buildings and road blocks, and fired tear gas and jets of blue-dyed water from water cannon. The coloured liquid is traditionally used to make it easier for Police to identify protesters.
The Police later confirmed that two officers fired into the air during operations to clear protesters from the streets. Both officers fired one shot each when they felt their lives were threatened, the Police department said.
Eric, a 22-year-old student, told
Reuters news agency: “Telling us not to protest is like telling us not to breathe. I feel it’s my duty to fight for democracy. Maybe we win, maybe we lose, but we fight.”
The recent demonstrations have been characterised as leaderless. Last Friday Police had appealed to members of the public to cut ties with “violent protesters” and had warned people not to take part in the banned march. Police made a number of arrests late on Saturday.