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Hong Kong: thousands march in Yuen Long amid police standoff Hong Kong: police fire teargas as thousands march in Yuen Long
(about 3 hours later)
Hundreds of protesters marching in Yuen Long, the district in Hong Kong where suspected gang members attacked commuters last weekend, are locked in a standoff with riot police officers. Hong Kong riot police have fired teargas and pepper spray on hundreds of protesters after hours of standoffs at several locations across the town of Yuen Long, where suspected gang members attacked commuters with poles and rods last weekend.
Protesters in black T-shirts and hard hats, armed with home-made shields and holding up umbrellas, faced off against riot police officers on Saturday just outside Yuen Long station, near Nam Pin Wai village, which the suspected gang members entered in last week’s attack that left 45 people in hospital. Thousands had marched in the area earlier on Saturday afternoon in defiance of police, who had banned the demonstration. Marchers said they had come to condemn the use of violence last Sunday to intimidate people into staying silent.
Riot police carried long shields and guns and batons. The atmosphere turned tense as about 100 officers formed into a line on the main road outside the Yuen Long police station and advanced eastwards towards Nam Pin Wai, blocking entrances to the village. 'Where were the police?' Hong Kong outcry after masked thugs launch attack
The head of the Yuen Long village committee told a press briefing this week that protesters should stay away from villages or else villagers would “defend their homeland”, hinting that they might fight back violently. Shortly after 5pm local time, police began to fire several rounds of teargas at protesters gathering outside the Sai Pin Wai village near the Yuen Long mass transit railway station, after they raised black flags emblazoned with “warning: tear smoke”. Sai Pin Wai village is next to Nam Pin Wai village, where large numbers of men in white entered after the Sunday attack.
Residents and protesters crowded an overpass overlooking the standoff, shouting slogans such as “Reclaim Hong Kong, the era of revolution!” Many protesters left in droves but many remained defiant. “Reclaim Hong Kong, revolution of the era!” they chanted.
Thousands marched in the area in defiance of police, who had banned the demonstration, chanting “Go Hong Kong!” and “Nasty police!” Others said: “Hong Kong police, they know the law but they break the law!” Later, as about 100 protesters in black T-shirts and hard hats armed with home-made wooden shields marched down the main road in Yuen Long, police fired pepper spray before shooting several more rounds of teargas at them. Protesters threw objects such as umbrellas and water bottles in return.
Marchers said they had come to condemn the use of violence to intimidate people into staying silent. Outside the Nam Pin Wai village just outside the station, protesters banged on road signs and a phone booth with wooden sticks and umbrellas, and built barricades in case the police advanced towards them. Many held up umbrellas and home-made wooden shields behind a line of makeshift barricades they had built from roadside metal fences with while beating on their shields and barricades with their umbrellas in a rhythm.
Tan, 25, who had come to the rally despite his parents’ request to stay away, said: “If no one stands up for those people who got hurt, in the future there may be more people who get hurt. We just want to say no to violence.” Police fired several more shots of teargas outside the villages. Protesters were locked in a standoff with large number of riot police outside the Sai Pin Wai and Nam Pin Wai villages. Police shouted warning messages through loudhailers telling people they were involved in illegal gatherings and ordering people to leave immediately.
Apple Daily reported that police shot at a protester, making a hole in his home-made wooden shield, although it was not immediately known what was used in the shot. A reporter said police threw teargas towards journalists and shone bright lights towards them.
At about the same time, some protesters threw rocks towards police. A couple of smoke bombs landed on the ground, and police put them out immediately. Police then threw teargas again while protesters rushed up to put them out.
Just before 7.30pm, riot police began to charge at protesters and used their batons to beat protesters. At least two were seen held on the ground by police. About 100 riot police officers carrying long shields, guns and batons continued to advance towards the protesters in the direction of the station.
Local media reported that police deployed the special tactical squad in black uniform as protesters yelled and urged each other to leave.
A government press release issued in early evening told people that police would “soon embark on a dispersal operation” and ordered them to leave or avoid going to Yuen Long. The statement said a large number of protesters held iron rods and home-made shields. It accused protesters of removing roadside fences and vandalising a police vehicle “causing danger to the life of the police officers onboard”.
Earlier in the day, Tan, 25, who had come to the rally despite his parents’ request to stay away, said: “If no one stands up for those people who got hurt, in the future there may be more people who get hurt. We just want to say no to violence.”
“If every Hongkonger chooses to stay at home then we will surely die,” said Hong, 30. “If all the people choose to stand up and we choose to support each other we will create a better society.”“If every Hongkonger chooses to stay at home then we will surely die,” said Hong, 30. “If all the people choose to stand up and we choose to support each other we will create a better society.”
What are the Hong Kong protests about?What are the Hong Kong protests about?
Most shops along the main road where the march was taking place were closed. The road was turned into a sea of umbrellas as demonstrators tried to shield themselves from the sun. The mood was festive as protesters broke out into cheers and clapped. Residents crowded an overpass, watching and occasionally yelling out: “Go Hong Kong people!” Some hung banners across the bridge that said: “Police and gangsters are one.”Most shops along the main road where the march was taking place were closed. The road was turned into a sea of umbrellas as demonstrators tried to shield themselves from the sun. The mood was festive as protesters broke out into cheers and clapped. Residents crowded an overpass, watching and occasionally yelling out: “Go Hong Kong people!” Some hung banners across the bridge that said: “Police and gangsters are one.”
Some transport links were shut, with the light rail in Yuen Long suspended because of a “special incident”, according to an announcement.Some transport links were shut, with the light rail in Yuen Long suspended because of a “special incident”, according to an announcement.
Some were preparing for the possibility of violence. A group of about a dozen protesters dressed all in black, with helmets, wooden shields, bamboo rods and poles were patrolling the perimeter, closer to the villages. The group chanted: “Protect Hong Kong!”Some were preparing for the possibility of violence. A group of about a dozen protesters dressed all in black, with helmets, wooden shields, bamboo rods and poles were patrolling the perimeter, closer to the villages. The group chanted: “Protect Hong Kong!”
Lee, 24, holding a tennis racket for protection, grew up nearby and went to school in Yuen Long. He said he was shocked and upset when he heard about the attacks. “I really never want to be aggressive. I think today we needed to come out.”Lee, 24, holding a tennis racket for protection, grew up nearby and went to school in Yuen Long. He said he was shocked and upset when he heard about the attacks. “I really never want to be aggressive. I think today we needed to come out.”
Protesters surrounded the police station, which was closed, calling on police to come out and talk. One tried to offer them desserts. Others held signs that said: “Stop the violence.” Residents in villages secured bricks to the ground, so they could not be used by protesters. Earlier, protesters surrounded the police station, which was closed, calling on police to come out and talk. One tried to offer them desserts. Others held signs that said: “Stop the violence.” Residents in villages secured bricks to the ground, so they could not be used by protesters.
A queue of at least six police vans were parked outside Yuen Long station. About a dozen men in white T-shirts, the clothing worn by last week’s attackers, could be seen in Nam Pin Wai. Many were wearing masks
Earlier in the week, police rejected an application by protesters to hold a rally in Yuen Long on the grounds that there could be clashes with residents of the villages, where the triads are active.Earlier in the week, police rejected an application by protesters to hold a rally in Yuen Long on the grounds that there could be clashes with residents of the villages, where the triads are active.
The Hong Kong government told citizens on its Facebook page on Saturday not to go to the Yuen Long protest, warning them against “defying the law”.The Hong Kong government told citizens on its Facebook page on Saturday not to go to the Yuen Long protest, warning them against “defying the law”.
The attack in Yuen Long and the response by authorities has plunged Hong Kong further into its worst political crisis in decades. Residents, activists and opposition lawmakers have accused the government and police of colluding with the triads in an attempt to suppress a protest movement that has taken over the city for the last two months, a charge vehemently denied by the Hong Kong leader, Carrie Lam.The attack in Yuen Long and the response by authorities has plunged Hong Kong further into its worst political crisis in decades. Residents, activists and opposition lawmakers have accused the government and police of colluding with the triads in an attempt to suppress a protest movement that has taken over the city for the last two months, a charge vehemently denied by the Hong Kong leader, Carrie Lam.
The demonstrations, initially triggered by a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, have turned into a referendum on the Hong Kong government and the eroding of the city’s freedoms under Beijing’s control. China has labelled the protests riots and condemned the “extreme illegal violence”.The demonstrations, initially triggered by a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, have turned into a referendum on the Hong Kong government and the eroding of the city’s freedoms under Beijing’s control. China has labelled the protests riots and condemned the “extreme illegal violence”.
Over the past week, dozens of groups including civil servants, teachers, and aviation workers joined the protest movement by issuing letters of condemnation and threatening “industrial action” if the government did not respond to the public’s demands.Over the past week, dozens of groups including civil servants, teachers, and aviation workers joined the protest movement by issuing letters of condemnation and threatening “industrial action” if the government did not respond to the public’s demands.
The police rejected another application by protesters to hold a rally in Sheung Wan where police and protesters clashed last week.The police rejected another application by protesters to hold a rally in Sheung Wan where police and protesters clashed last week.
The denial of permission amounts to a ban on the protests, a move that the police had not taken over the past seven weeks of demonstrations. Protesters pledged to come out despite the ban, escalating the prospect of clashes with police. Hong Kong has been rocked by its largest political crisis in decades since 9 June. The wave of protests during the past seven weeks were triggered by a controversial extradition bill, which allowed for individuals to be sent to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist party. The protests, which have ended in violent clashes in the past few weekends, have since morphed into broader demands for police accountability and universal suffrage.
To get around the order, protesters called on Hongkongers to come for a “full-gear shopping day” in Yuen Long, in which protesters would don their protective gear to go shopping.
Others have called for a mass round of Pokémon Go. Some have sarcastically said they will be holding a memorial, which does not need police permission, for the late Chinese premier Li Peng, known as the “butcher of Beijing” for his role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, who died this week.
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