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Hong Kong: police fire teargas as thousands march in Yuen Long Hong Kong: police fire teargas as thousands march in Yuen Long
(about 1 hour later)
Hong Kong riot police fired teargas and pepper spray on thousands of protesters who marched in the town of Yuen Long to condemn an attack by suspected gang members on commuters last weekend. Hong Kong riot police have fired teargas and pepper spray at thousands of protesters who were marching in the town of Yuen Long to condemn an attack by suspected gang members on commuters last weekend.
Almost 300,000 protesters and residents had descended on Yuen Long on Saturday afternoon, defying a police ban. They marched to the mass transit station where masked men in white T-shirts had chased and beaten passengers on Sunday. Almost 300,000 protesters and residents descended on Yuen Long on Saturday afternoon, defying a police ban. They marched to the mass transit station where masked men in white T-shirts had chased and beaten passengers on Sunday.
By the evening, the peaceful march turned tense as demonstrators pushed close to villages surrounding the town, where some of the triads believed to be behind the attack are based. Police shouted warnings through loudhailers telling people they were involved in illegal gatherings and ordering them to leave immediately. After hours of standoffs near two of the villages, police fired volleys of teargas at protesters who tossed the canisters back. By the evening, the peaceful march had turned tense as demonstrators pushed close to villages surrounding the town, where some of the triads believed to be behind the attack are based. Police shouted warnings through loudhailers telling people they were involved in illegal gatherings and ordering them to leave immediately. After hours of standoffs near two of the villages, police fired volleys of teargas at protesters, who tossed some of the canisters back.
Protesters in black T-shirts and hard hats holding home-made wooden shields marched down the main road in Yuen Long when police fired pepper spray before shooting several more rounds of teargas at them, prompting protesters to throw umbrellas and water bottles in return. Demonstrators dismantled roadside barriers and built makeshift barricades between them and the police. The protesters, many of whom were wearing black T-shirts and hard hats and holding home-made wooden shields, retaliated to the pepper spray and teargas by throwing umbrellas and water bottles. Demonstrators dismantled roadside barriers and built makeshift barricades between them and the police.
The protesters had said they would leave together at 7.30pm to avoid any clashes in the evening with triads or residents from the villages. But as news spread that police had deployed a special tactical squad to clear the streets and demonstrators saw reinforcements arriving, hemming them in, they began to leave in panicked droves. The protesters had said they would leave together at 7.30pm to avoid any clashes in the evening with triads or villagers. But as news spread that police had deployed a special tactical squad to clear the streets and demonstrators saw reinforcements arriving, hemming them in, they began to leave in panicked droves.
“I want everyone to be safe and to go home,” said Andy, 22, a demonstrator who was ushering people toward the trains. “This is a long-term movement and we already have less and less people who can be on the frontlines. We don’t want people to get arrested or hurt.”“I want everyone to be safe and to go home,” said Andy, 22, a demonstrator who was ushering people toward the trains. “This is a long-term movement and we already have less and less people who can be on the frontlines. We don’t want people to get arrested or hurt.”
Hundreds of protesters remained and continued to face off with the police late into the night, regrouping in the Yuen Long train station and along the main road. A special tactical unit rushed into the train station where protesters had gathered, using pepper spray and beating some with batons. At least one protester was pressed on to the ground and was bleeding. Blood could seen on the floor in the station lobby. Hundreds of protesters remained, however, and continued to face off with the police late into the night, regrouping in the Yuen Long train station and along the main road. A special tactical unit rushed into the train station where protesters had gathered, using pepper spray and beating some with batons. At least one protester was pushed to the ground and was bleeding. Blood could seen on the floor in the station lobby.
A group smashed the windows of a Lexus near the train station after spotting wooden rods similar to those used against passengers on last Sunday, leaving fliers criticising the police on the bonnet. One group smashed the windows of a Lexus near the train station after spotting wooden rods similar to those used against passengers on last Sunday, leaving fliers criticising the police on the bonnet.
The police issued a statement late on Saturday appealing to protesters to leave Yuen Long as soon as possible. “Police warn that protestors may be arrested if they refuse to leave,” the statement said, adding that demonstrators were participating in an “unauthorised assembly” and may punished with up to five years in prison. The police issued a statement late on Saturday appealing to protesters to leave Yuen Long as soon as possible. “Police warn that protestors may be arrested if they refuse to leave,” the statement said, adding that demonstrators were participating in an “unauthorised assembly” and may be punished with up to five years in prison.
The protests and clashes, among the most chaotic of the last seven weeks, raise the stakes of an ongoing standoff between demonstrators and authorities. Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous region of China, is facing its worst political crisis in decades. The protests, which began over a controversial extradition bill, have evolved to take in other demands, including a police inquiry into the violence in Yuen Long last week. Residents, activists and opposition lawmakers have accused the government and police of colluding with the triads in an attempt to suppress protests, a charge vehemently denied by Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam.
Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous region of China, is facing its worst political crisis in decades. The protests, which began over a controversial extradition bill, have evolved to take on other demands including a police inquiry into the violence in Yuen Long last week. Residents, activists and opposition lawmakers have accused the government and police of colluding with the triads in an attempt to suppress protests, a charge vehemently denied by the Hong Kong leader, Carrie Lam. Those attending the rally on Saturday said they were not there to make any political demands, but to speak out against violence. “It’s not so much about democracy as it is about trust,” said Fong, 30. “If every Hongkonger chooses to stay at home, then we will surely die … This is the way Hongkongers show their trust to each other – by showing up and standing up for each other.”
Those attending the rally on Saturday, which turned the town of Yuen Long into a sea of umbrellas as marchers shielded themselves from the sun, said they were not there for any political demands, but to speak out against violence. The attack in Yuen Long and the response by authorities has added fuel to the protest movement, with rallies planned for Sunday and threatened “industrial action” from civil servants and other groups.
“It’s not so much about democracy as it is about trust,” said Fong, 30. “If every Hongkonger chooses to stay at home then we will surely die … This is the way Hongkongers show their trust to each other, by showing up and standing up for each other.” Observers say the escalated tensions also raise the likelihood that Beijing will push the Hong Kong government to take a harder line on the protesters. In a rare move, police denied the demonstrators’ application for the rally on Saturday in Yuen Long.
The attack in Yuen Long and the response by authorities has added fuel to the protest movement, with rallies planned for Sunday and threatened “industrial actions” from civil servants and other groups.
Observers say the escalated tensions also raise the likelihood that Beijing will push the Hong Kong government to take a harder line on the protesters. In a rare move, police denied demonstrators’ application for the rally on Saturday in Yuen Long.
Authorities also rejected a request to hold one on Sunday in Sheung Wan, near where police fired teargas and rubber bullets on demonstrators who had defaced China’s representative office in Hong Kong.Authorities also rejected a request to hold one on Sunday in Sheung Wan, near where police fired teargas and rubber bullets on demonstrators who had defaced China’s representative office in Hong Kong.
Protesters have vowed to hold the rallies anyway and to continue the movement. Max Chung, who helped organise the rally on Saturday, said he believed residents had shown their resolve: “Hongkongers have stiffened their backs to say no to authoritarianism.”Protesters have vowed to hold the rallies anyway and to continue the movement. Max Chung, who helped organise the rally on Saturday, said he believed residents had shown their resolve: “Hongkongers have stiffened their backs to say no to authoritarianism.”
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