HONG KONG ERUPTS AGAIN
Riot police use tear gas to combat Beijing security law protests
TEAR gas and water cannon returned to the streets of Hong Kong yesterday as riot police moved against thousands of prodemocracy protesters.
Demonstrators were out in force over an imminent new security crackdown by China.
In Causeway Bay, a main shopping area, crowds chanted Stand with Hong Kong, Liberate Hong Kong and Revolution of our Times.
Police raised blue flags, warning the protesters to disperse, before firing multiple rounds of teargas, followed by the water cannon.
At least 120 people were arrested, mostly on charges of unlawful assembly, police said, including prominent activist Tam Tak-chi.
Police alleged protesters splashed unidentified liquid and threw bricks at officers, injuring at least four.
The latest protests were triggered by Beijing’s proposed national security law to ban what it calls secessionist and subversive activity and foreign interference in the former British colony.
Critics say it goes against the ‘one country, two systems’ framework that promised Hong Kong certain freedoms in the 1997 handover of the city to China.
The new law is expected to be passed on Thursday. It would bypass Hong Kong’s legislature and allow the ruling Communist Party to set up mainland agencies in the city that would give Chinese agents the power to arbitrarily arrest protesters.
Hong Kong’s long-running pro-democracy movement has called on Downing Street to stand up to Beijing over the changes and offer ‘sanctuary’ for those caught in China’s crackdown.
Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, and former foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind have organised 200 signatories from around the world including 44 MPs, eight members of the House of Lords and 17 members of the US congress to a letter adding to the backlash this weekend.
Sir Malcolm said: ‘This is the most serious threat to the people of Hong Kong from the Chinese government since 1997. The people of Hong Kong need, and deserve, our support.’