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Hong Kong protests: Police fire tear gas in Causeway Bay | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Hong Kong police have fired tear gas at unauthorised protests near the Chinese government's office and a busy shopping district. | |
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken over streets near Sai Wan and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island. | |
They are protesting against alleged police brutality, and demanding democratic reform. | |
Hong Kong has seen eight consecutive weekends of anti-government and pro-democracy protests. | Hong Kong has seen eight consecutive weekends of anti-government and pro-democracy protests. |
On Saturday, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at another pro-democracy protest in Yuen Long, in the north. | |
Hong Kong is ranked as one of the safest cities in the world - but recent protests have been followed by violent clashes between demonstrators, police and masked men wielding sticks suspected of being criminal gang members. | |
Police had authorised a static sit-in at Chater Gardens, a public square in the central business district, on Sunday - but did not permit a march, citing safety concerns. | |
However, the rally quickly spilled out from the square, with protesters blocking roads and marching towards Sai Wan, where the Chinese government's offices are based, and Causeway Bay, a downtown shopping area. | |
Some protesters chanted "reclaim Hong Kong" and "revolution of our times", or held up banners that read "end the violence". | Some protesters chanted "reclaim Hong Kong" and "revolution of our times", or held up banners that read "end the violence". |
Other demonstrators set up barricades in the street. | Other demonstrators set up barricades in the street. |
How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
Demonstrations began when the Hong Kong government introduced a controversial bill that would have enabled extraditions to mainland China. | Demonstrations began when the Hong Kong government introduced a controversial bill that would have enabled extraditions to mainland China. |
It sparked huge protests as critics feared the bill would undermine Hong Kong's freedoms, and be used to target political activists. | It sparked huge protests as critics feared the bill would undermine Hong Kong's freedoms, and be used to target political activists. |
The row intensified as police were accused of using excessive force on anti-extradition bill protesters. | The row intensified as police were accused of using excessive force on anti-extradition bill protesters. |
Tensions increased further last Sunday, when suspected triad members descended on a subway station in Yuen Long, beating protesters, passersby and journalists with sticks. | Tensions increased further last Sunday, when suspected triad members descended on a subway station in Yuen Long, beating protesters, passersby and journalists with sticks. |
Demonstrators accused the police of colluding with the triads - claims angrily denied by the police. | Demonstrators accused the police of colluding with the triads - claims angrily denied by the police. |
The authorities say they have arrested 12 people over the attack, including nine men with links to triads. | The authorities say they have arrested 12 people over the attack, including nine men with links to triads. |
The anti-extradition protests have morphed over time into a wider movement. | The anti-extradition protests have morphed over time into a wider movement. |
While the government has paused work on the extradition bill, protesters now want it withdrawn completely, as well as an independent inquiry into police violence, and democratic reform. | While the government has paused work on the extradition bill, protesters now want it withdrawn completely, as well as an independent inquiry into police violence, and democratic reform. |
They want the territory's leader, Carrie Lam, who is not democratically elected, and whose handling of the crisis has been widely criticised, to resign. | They want the territory's leader, Carrie Lam, who is not democratically elected, and whose handling of the crisis has been widely criticised, to resign. |
Some protesters have also expressed their anger at the mainland Chinese government, which they say has been eroding freedoms in Hong Kong. | Some protesters have also expressed their anger at the mainland Chinese government, which they say has been eroding freedoms in Hong Kong. |
Last week, demonstrators stormed the Chinese government's office and defaced the national emblem. | Last week, demonstrators stormed the Chinese government's office and defaced the national emblem. |
The authorities have now installed a protective casing around the sign. | The authorities have now installed a protective casing around the sign. |
Timeline of events 2019 | Timeline of events 2019 |
3 April - Hong Kong government introduces amendments to the city's extradition laws to the legislature that would allow criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China. | 3 April - Hong Kong government introduces amendments to the city's extradition laws to the legislature that would allow criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China. |
9 June - In the first of many huge protests against the changes, an estimated million people march to government headquarters. | 9 June - In the first of many huge protests against the changes, an estimated million people march to government headquarters. |
12 June - Anti-extradition bill protesters block roads and try to storm government buildings - police fire tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds at protesters, in the worst violence the city has seen in decades. | 12 June - Anti-extradition bill protesters block roads and try to storm government buildings - police fire tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds at protesters, in the worst violence the city has seen in decades. |
15 June - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam indefinitely delays the bill in a dramatic reversal. | 15 June - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam indefinitely delays the bill in a dramatic reversal. |
16 June - Despite this, an estimated two million people take to the streets demanding the complete withdrawal of the bill, an investigation into alleged police violence, and Carrie Lam's resignation. | 16 June - Despite this, an estimated two million people take to the streets demanding the complete withdrawal of the bill, an investigation into alleged police violence, and Carrie Lam's resignation. |
21 June - As anger grows towards police, protests blockade police headquarters for 15 hours. They now also want protesters that were arrested to be exonerated. | 21 June - As anger grows towards police, protests blockade police headquarters for 15 hours. They now also want protesters that were arrested to be exonerated. |
1 July - On the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from the UK to China, the Legislative Council (LegCo) building is stormed and broken into by protesters. | 1 July - On the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from the UK to China, the Legislative Council (LegCo) building is stormed and broken into by protesters. |
21 July- Protesters deface China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong. That same night mobs of men wearing white shirts attack protesters and commuters in Yuen Long station, near mainland China, in a new escalation of violence. | 21 July- Protesters deface China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong. That same night mobs of men wearing white shirts attack protesters and commuters in Yuen Long station, near mainland China, in a new escalation of violence. |