Tear gas and rubber bullets are now part of life in Hong Kong
‘I brought my daughter because I want her to understand that she has the right and freedom to express her views’
Another day, another zig-zagging protest and yet another violent showdown. Hong Kong police last night fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators in the popular tourist district of Tsim Sha Tsui, after tens of thousands took to the streets in defiance of increasingly stern warnings from Beijing.
The violence – on the eighth consecutive weekend of protests – erupted not far from where protesters had earlier caused tailbacks by briefly blocking a tunnel in Hung Hom.
In Victoria Harbour, some removed a Chinese flag and flung it into the sea, while another group gathered by a police station in Wong Tai Sin.
This city of seven million people is facing its worst political crisis since the former British colony was returned to China in 1997.
Demonstrators first gathered to protest against a law that would allow the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China, but the movement has grown into a wholesale rejection of Beijing’s increasing influence.
While on occasion millions have
marched in long snaking protests down main avenues, smaller demonstrations have triggered chaos throughout the city.
Life for residents is falling into a new, unpredictable rhythm – with the arrival of night often bringing clouds of tear gas as police use increasing force to disperse crowds.
In the sweltering heat of summer, the city feels strained to its limit as train drivers, police and health workers work around the clock.
There are protest signs everywhere you look – on overpasses, shops and building-fronts – while slogans such as “Reclaim Hong Kong! Revolution of our time!” have been scrawled on pavements and inside fitting rooms.
On Saturday, demonstrators started in a public park in Mong Kok before they spun off the approved march route and spread to different corners of the city.
Bus passengers were forced to walk as vehicles were left bumperto-bumper by the crowds.
One van driver rolled down his window to hand an umbrella to a passing demonstrator – the accessories are now more commonly used to shield against facial detection than the weather even though Hong Kong is deep in typhoon season.
Next to a hastily erected barrier, an ice-cream truck playing the Blue Danube Waltz sold cone after cone to first-aid workers and protesters, while others handed around McDonald’s burgers.
Protesters have adopted the Bruce Lee mantra “Be Like Water” to underline their fluidity.
Tomorrow, they have called for a citywide strike and rallies r in seven neighbourhoods.
But a spontaneou spontaneous, leaderless movement can cause confusion.
Yesterday, protest protesters looking to join the march, locals trying try to get home and tourists keen to do some shopping all asked The Telegraph Telegra – clearly identified in a media vest – which direction to go.
“Where are the protesters?” pr said Judy Chu, 68, a retir retired woman waiting for the crowds to arrive arr at a park, the end point of a mar march. “I was planning to sup support the protest, but for some reason they aren’t here yet.”
Tired activists sat on the ground g sharing snac snacks and watching onl online feeds of sta stand-offs in other parts of the city. Even the police can seem confounded confoun as they scramble around t the city to protect landmarks, a particular parti concern for authorities after a radical group of protesters stormed the legislative council building last month.
Crackdowns, when they come, trigger more unrest. The arrest of several protesters including prominent pro-democracy activists this week prompted flash mobs to surround police stations and stop cars.
A taxi driver, like others keen for the return of normal life, grumbled to The Sunday Telegraph that protests would die down once students “bored” of summer returned to college.
But the protests show no sign of waning.
“I brought my daughter because I want her to understand that she has the right and freedom to express her views,” said Carlos Ng, 41.
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