Police fire tear gas as huge crowds take to streets in Hong Kong
HONG Kong police fired tear gas as a huge crowd took to the streets to demand more democracy and an investigation into the use of force to crack down on the six-month anti-government demonstrations.
Thousands turned out, from hardened youthful protesters in black outfits and face masks, to parents with their children.
Marching near the waterfront on the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour, they sought to keep the pressure on city leader Carrie Lam after pro-democracy candidates won district council elections a week earlier.
“If we don’t walk out, the government will say it’s just a youth issue, but this is a Hong Kong problem that affects all of us,” Lily Chau said as she pushed her toddler in a buggy. “If we are scared, the government will continue to trample on our rights.”
Many held up a hand to indicate the five demands of the movement and shouted “Five demands, not one less” and “Disband the police force”. The Kowbeen loon rally was cut short after riot police fired tear gas and arrested people. A police statement said minimum force was deployed after “hundreds of rioters hurled smoke bombs” and bricks to cause chaos.
Marchers berated police as they scrambled to flee the tear gas, shouting “Dirty cops” and “Are you trying to kill us?”
Police fired pepper spray and tear gas in some areas. Protesters dug up paving stones and threw them in the street to try to slow the police down.
Hong Kong’s protests have
relatively peaceful during the two weeks around the November 24 election but could turn violent again if the government does not bend to demands.
Ms Lam has said she will accelerate dialogue but has not yielded any ground since the vote. Her government has accepted one demand — withdrawing extradition legislation that could have sent suspects to mainland China for trial — but not the others.
Elaine Wong, an office worker, called the recent election an empty victory.
“We have in actual fact not won any concessions for our demands,” she said. “We must continue to stand out to remind the government of our unhappiness.”
Earlier marches yesterday appealed to President Donald Trump for help and demanded that police stop using tear gas.
A group dressed in black and wearing masks carried American flags as it headed to the US Consulate to express gratitude for legislation aimed at protecting human rights in Hong Kong that Mr Trump signed into law last week.