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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/28/hong-kong-protests-against-police-continue-in-third-day-of-unrest
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| Hong Kong protests against police continue in third day of unrest | Hong Kong protests against police continue in third day of unrest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of demonstrators streamed into central Hong Kong on Sunday in the third day of mass protests as public anger at the government reaches new heights. | Thousands of demonstrators streamed into central Hong Kong on Sunday in the third day of mass protests as public anger at the government reaches new heights. |
| Groups of protesters defied police orders and fanned out from a rally in a public square in central Hong Kong to condemn police behaviour towards demonstrators, occupying roads and setting up barricades. | |
| Some demonstrators moved west towards Beijing’s representative office in Hong Kong, which was defaced during rallies last weekend, with riot police facing off against protesters. Another group marched east, erecting barricades in a shopping district and surrounding a police station. Some shops in the area closed and bus routes were suspended. | |
| The organisers’ original plan for Sunday’s protest involved a march towards a park near China’s representative office where police had fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters last weekend, but officials had denied authorisation, granting permission permission to hold a rally in Chater Garden, a park east of the government’s legislative complex. | |
| In the last few days, tens of thousands of demonstrators have rallied to condemn an attack on commuters by suspected triad gangs last week, which has led to accusations of government collusion, denied by Hong Kong officials. | |
| On Saturday, a peaceful march in the town of Yuen Long turned chaotic as police fired teargas, rubber bullets and sponge grenades, and charged protesters in a railway station. | |
| Opposition to a proposed extradition law has broadened into a wider movement against Hong Kong's leadership, its relationship with China and the future for the special administrative region. | |
| Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, has offered a ‘solemn’ personal apology for the crisis and also hinted that she had in effect shelved the controversial legislation. However, protesters criticised her as insincere and said she had ignored their key demands. The demonstrations have continued. | Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, has offered a ‘solemn’ personal apology for the crisis and also hinted that she had in effect shelved the controversial legislation. However, protesters criticised her as insincere and said she had ignored their key demands. The demonstrations have continued. |
| The bill concerned legal changes that would make it easier to extradite people from Hong Kong to China. Supporters say the amendments are key to ensuring the city does not become a criminal refuge, but critics worry Beijing will use the law to extradite political opponents and others to China. Under the amended law, those accused of offences punishable by seven years or more in prison could be extradited. | The bill concerned legal changes that would make it easier to extradite people from Hong Kong to China. Supporters say the amendments are key to ensuring the city does not become a criminal refuge, but critics worry Beijing will use the law to extradite political opponents and others to China. Under the amended law, those accused of offences punishable by seven years or more in prison could be extradited. |
| The government claims the push to change the law, which would also apply to Taiwan and Macau, stems from the killing last year of a Hong Kong woman while she was in Taiwan with her boyfriend. Authorities in Taiwan suspect the woman’s boyfriend, who remains in Hong Kong, but cannot try him because no extradition agreement is in place. | The government claims the push to change the law, which would also apply to Taiwan and Macau, stems from the killing last year of a Hong Kong woman while she was in Taiwan with her boyfriend. Authorities in Taiwan suspect the woman’s boyfriend, who remains in Hong Kong, but cannot try him because no extradition agreement is in place. |
| Officials have promised to safeguard against abuses, pledging that no one at risk of political or religious persecution will be sent to the mainland. Suspects who could face the death penalty would not be extradited. | Officials have promised to safeguard against abuses, pledging that no one at risk of political or religious persecution will be sent to the mainland. Suspects who could face the death penalty would not be extradited. |
| Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said the bill has not come from the central government in Beijing. However, Beijing has voiced its backing for the changes. | Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said the bill has not come from the central government in Beijing. However, Beijing has voiced its backing for the changes. |
| Many fear the proposed extradition law will be used by authorities to target political enemies. They worry the new legislation spells the end of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, eroding the civil rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents since the handover of sovereignty from the UK to China in 1997. | Many fear the proposed extradition law will be used by authorities to target political enemies. They worry the new legislation spells the end of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, eroding the civil rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents since the handover of sovereignty from the UK to China in 1997. |
| Many attending the protests say they cannot trust China because it has often used non-political crimes to target government critics. They also fear Hong Kong officials will not be able to reject Beijing’s requests. Legal professionals have also expressed concern over the rights of those sent across the border to be tried. The conviction rate in Chinese courts is as high as 99%. Arbitrary detentions, torture and denial of legal representation of one’s choosing are also common. | |
| Police have clashed directly with demonstrators, and have been accused of standing by during attacks on protesters and commuters by groups of men in white in Yuen Long on 21 July. | Police have clashed directly with demonstrators, and have been accused of standing by during attacks on protesters and commuters by groups of men in white in Yuen Long on 21 July. |
| After the current crisis, analysts believe the Hong Kong government will probably start a new round of retaliatory measures against its critics, while the Chinese government will tighten its grip on the city. | After the current crisis, analysts believe the Hong Kong government will probably start a new round of retaliatory measures against its critics, while the Chinese government will tighten its grip on the city. |
| Lily Kuo in Beijing and Verna Yu in Hong Kong | Lily Kuo in Beijing and Verna Yu in Hong Kong |
| “We want to fight against police violence,” said Eunice Chan, 55, who has attended almost every weekend protest since the demonstrations started last month. Chan, who grew up in Hong Kong before it was returned to Chinese control in 1997, said Beijing’s growing influence on the city’s media, legal system and way of life was “obvious”. | “We want to fight against police violence,” said Eunice Chan, 55, who has attended almost every weekend protest since the demonstrations started last month. Chan, who grew up in Hong Kong before it was returned to Chinese control in 1997, said Beijing’s growing influence on the city’s media, legal system and way of life was “obvious”. |
| “It seems to us that this is our last chance. If we don’t do this now, we won’t be able to later,” she said. “We are so afraid they will make Hong Kong like another Chinese city.” | |
| Robert Kwok, 55, another demonstrator, said: “If we draw back, we lose everything.” | Robert Kwok, 55, another demonstrator, said: “If we draw back, we lose everything.” |
| Sunday is the second time demonstrators have defied a police ban on protesting. Authorities declared Saturday’s rally in Yuen Long illegal and on Sunday one of the organisers, Max Chung, was arrested on suspicion of inciting an illegal assembly. | |
| “It is very likely they are going to abolish the freedom of assembly. So we are asking people to come out because it may be the last time that we are going to have a peaceful and lawful protest in Hong Kong,” said one of the organisers on Sunday. | “It is very likely they are going to abolish the freedom of assembly. So we are asking people to come out because it may be the last time that we are going to have a peaceful and lawful protest in Hong Kong,” said one of the organisers on Sunday. |
| Protesters have now been demonstrating for more than seven weeks. Amy Yeung, 26, has been attending as many protests as she can. “I am mentally tired. Watching the news, you cry … and we’ve waited for a long time for the government to respond to our demands,” she said. “I free all my Sundays and Saturdays for the protest. At least standing here, we are giving the message that we are not alone.” | |
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