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Hong Kong Protest: Police Fire More Tear Gas as Marchers Rally Hong Kong Protest: Police Fire Tear Gas for 2nd Straight Day as Marchers Rally
(32 minutes later)
HONG KONG — Thousands of people rallied on Sunday for a second day of weekend protests in Hong Kong against what they say is police brutality, a day after officers fired tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets and clashed briefly with demonstrators in a train station. HONG KONG — For the second day in a row, thousands of people rallied on Sunday in Hong Kong to protest against what they say is police brutality against peaceful marchers. And for the second consecutive day, the police fired tear gas at the throngs.
The police had placed restrictions on organizers’ plans for Sunday, approving a meeting in a square in the Central district but rejecting a request to march to the western part of Hong Kong Island, citing fears of violence. The day before, riot police officers had unleashed pepper spray and rubber bullets and clashed briefly with demonstrators in a train station. On Sunday, clashes erupted near the Chinese government’s representative office in the territory.
But clashes erupted near the Chinese government’s representative office in Hong Kong late on Sunday, when the police fired several rounds of tear gas about 7 p.m. and charged protesters, sending hundreds of bystanders who were watching nearby scrambling for shelter. The police fired several rounds of tear gas about 7 p.m. and charged protesters, sending hundreds of bystanders who were watching nearby scrambling for shelter. Groups of riot police officers with clubs chased black-clad protesters down alley ways in the dense urban district.
Groups of riot police officers with clubs chased black-clad protesters down alley ways in the dense urban district. “I am really shocked,” said Isaac Chan, a lawyer who lives near the liaison office, saying he was upset about the police response and the use of tear gas.
The demonstrations began nearly two months ago, and this was the fourth straight weekend that violent clashes have broken out amid peaceful marches. Mr. Chan, 36, said he supported the protesters but had not participated in any demonstrations. “It is complete violence by the police,” he said. “Ridiculous.”
The liaison office was defaced a week ago by protesters who painted slogans and threw eggs and ink at a crest of the Chinese state. That vandalism set off days of vociferous denunciations from Chinese officials. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, China’s cabinet, said the actions “openly challenged the authority of the central government.” This was the third straight weekend that violent clashes have broken out since the demonstrations began nearly two months ago over an unpopular extradition bill, since shelved, that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. Since then, the demonstrations have grown into almost daily public displays of vitriol against the police and Hong Kong’s leaders.
The police had banned marches in the city, but it did not stop protesters from turning out on Saturday. Officials said there had been 13 arrests stemming from that protest on charges of unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapons, assaulting a police officer and assault. The authorities had banned marches in the city, but it did not stop protesters from turning out on Saturday. Officials said there had been 13 arrests stemming from that protest on charges of unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapons, assaulting a police officer and assault.
Organizers also said the lead applicant for the march, Max Chung, had been arrested on charges of inciting others to take part in an unlawful assembly.Organizers also said the lead applicant for the march, Max Chung, had been arrested on charges of inciting others to take part in an unlawful assembly.
The police had also placed restrictions on organizers’ plans for Sunday, approving a meeting in a square in the Central district but rejecting a request to march to the western part of Hong Kong Island, citing fears of violence.
The last stop of the banned march on Sunday was supposed to be close to the liaison office, which has been a target of growing anger after reports that one of its district officers had given a speech in the satellite town of Yuen Long urging residents to drive out protesters.The last stop of the banned march on Sunday was supposed to be close to the liaison office, which has been a target of growing anger after reports that one of its district officers had given a speech in the satellite town of Yuen Long urging residents to drive out protesters.
Just over a week later, a group of men, including some accused of having connections with the gangs known as triads, assaulted protesters and others in a Yuen Long train station. At least 45 people were injured. Last weekend, a group of men, including some accused of having connections with the gangs known as triads, assaulted protesters and others in a Yuen Long train station. At least 45 people were injured.
The liaison office has dismissed alleged links to the Yuen Long violence as “malicious rumors.” But it is facing increasing scrutiny over its role in Hong Kong, which is a semiautonomous part of China that has operated under a model of “one country, two systems” since its 1997 return from British control.The liaison office has dismissed alleged links to the Yuen Long violence as “malicious rumors.” But it is facing increasing scrutiny over its role in Hong Kong, which is a semiautonomous part of China that has operated under a model of “one country, two systems” since its 1997 return from British control.
The liaison office was defaced a week ago by protesters who painted slogans and threw eggs and ink at a crest of the Chinese state. That vandalism set off days of vociferous denunciations from Chinese officials. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, China’s cabinet, said the actions “openly challenged the authority of the central government.”
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense cited the damage to the liaison office when he warned that the military could be called upon to quell unrest in Hong Kong. The local government has repeatedly denied requesting assistance from the armed forces.On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense cited the damage to the liaison office when he warned that the military could be called upon to quell unrest in Hong Kong. The local government has repeatedly denied requesting assistance from the armed forces.
Before the protest on Sunday, workers erected barriers around the liaison office and glued down nearby pavement stones to prevent them from being dug up and hurled by protesters.Before the protest on Sunday, workers erected barriers around the liaison office and glued down nearby pavement stones to prevent them from being dug up and hurled by protesters.
But after gathering in Chater Garden in Central, thousands of protesters defied expectations by marching in the opposite direction of the liaison office. No police officers were seen until the crowd reached police headquarters, where a handful of officers appeared behind barriers as hundreds of protesters shouted slogans outside.But after gathering in Chater Garden in Central, thousands of protesters defied expectations by marching in the opposite direction of the liaison office. No police officers were seen until the crowd reached police headquarters, where a handful of officers appeared behind barriers as hundreds of protesters shouted slogans outside.
The protesters filled Hennessy Road, the center of a major shopping district in the Causeway Bay district, and began building barriers from sidewalk railings. Hundreds more went to the liaison office about three miles away, where they faced off against riot police officers defending the building.The protesters filled Hennessy Road, the center of a major shopping district in the Causeway Bay district, and began building barriers from sidewalk railings. Hundreds more went to the liaison office about three miles away, where they faced off against riot police officers defending the building.
The police warned onlookers to leave the area for their own safety, but hundreds stood in the streets near the lines of police officers and protesters.The police warned onlookers to leave the area for their own safety, but hundreds stood in the streets near the lines of police officers and protesters.
Prohibitions on protests are generally rare in Hong Kong, but they have been used with increasing frequency in recent days as the authorities try to contain a turbulent protest movement.Prohibitions on protests are generally rare in Hong Kong, but they have been used with increasing frequency in recent days as the authorities try to contain a turbulent protest movement.
A few demonstrations this spring against a government plan, since shelved, that would allow extraditions to mainland China have grown into almost daily public displays of vitriol against the police and Hong Kong’s leaders. The demands include an expansion of direct elections and an independent investigation into police use of force.A few demonstrations this spring against a government plan, since shelved, that would allow extraditions to mainland China have grown into almost daily public displays of vitriol against the police and Hong Kong’s leaders. The demands include an expansion of direct elections and an independent investigation into police use of force.
Weeks of protests have also exacerbated divisions between government leaders and some of the rank-and-file police officers assigned to confrontational protests. Police associations denounced the No. 2 official in Hong Kong, Matthew Cheung, after he apologized on Friday for the authorities’ failure to stop the Yuen Long attack.Weeks of protests have also exacerbated divisions between government leaders and some of the rank-and-file police officers assigned to confrontational protests. Police associations denounced the No. 2 official in Hong Kong, Matthew Cheung, after he apologized on Friday for the authorities’ failure to stop the Yuen Long attack.