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Hong Kong police fire teargas as protests enter third day Police and protesters clash throughout Hong Kong on third day of unrest
(about 4 hours later)
Police fired several rounds of teargas at protesters in residential areas of Hong Kong in the third day of mass protests as political unrest in Hong Kong deepens. Hong Kong has had its third consecutive day of mass protests as demonstrators and riot police firing teargas and rubber bullets clashed in several locations throughout the city.
Groups of protesters attending an anti-government rally on Sunday defied police orders and fanned out from the sanctioned area in central Hong Kong, streaming west and east, occupying roads and setting up barricades, prompting major roads and shops to close. Tens of thousands of protesters, dressed in black and armed with umbrellas and hardhats, defied police orders to keep Sunday’s rally constrained to a park in central Hong Kong and fanned out across the city in the early evening. They streamed west and east, occupying main roads, setting up barricades, and chanting: “Reclaim Hong Kong!”
Riot police confronted hundreds of protesters attempting to reach Beijing’s representative office in Hong Kong, a target in the protests. After a short standoff, police held up a warning flag and began to fire continuous rounds of teargas at demonstrators. Riot police blocked a contingent of demonstrators going west to Beijing’s representative office in Hong Kong, now a target in the protest movement, but as the crowd of protesters grew, police fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters, who threw umbrellas, rocks, eggs, and gas canisters back at them. The protesters beat on street signs and traffic barriers, creating a drumbeat as they tried to hold their ground.
“It lasted a whole minute. It was at least 10 rounds,” said Long, 25, a medical volunteer who said he had helped pull demonstrators back from the frontline when they were stumbling and unable to see. “It lasted a whole minute. It was at least 10 rounds,” said Long, a 25-year-old medical volunteer who said he had helped pull demonstrators back from the frontline when they were stumbling and unable to see.
“Even the protesters are peaceful … they keep throwing the teargas. I don’t know why they keep throwing,” said Hinton, 16, who had tears in his eyes after being gassed. Over the last three days, demonstrators have rallied to condemn an attack last week on commuters by suspected triad gangs last week, an incident that has led to accusations of government collusion, denied by Hong Kong officials.
Protesters said police tactics against them were escalating, with officers firing earlier and more frequently. Some said they believed the police were hemming them in to arrest them. 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. Thousands of demonstrators joined aviation workers at the airport for an 11-hour-sit-in on Friday.
Demonstrators in gas masks and goggles choked on the gas. When police began firing, two women in a nearby apartment building opened their door, ushering in protesters, who rushed in and collapsed on the stairwell. One demonstrator was seen bleeding from the ankle from a foam bullet. The former British colony is facing its most serious political crisis since it was returned to Chinese control in 1997. Under the terms of that agreement, the semi-autonomous region was meant to maintain a “high degree of autonomy” through an independent judiciary, a free press and an open market economy, a framework known as: “One country, two systems.”
As police fired on protesters, pushing them back towards central Hong Kong and the starting point of the rally, demonstrators retreated to smaller roads. Tourists and residents ran from the scene, covering their eyes and mouths with their clothes. Sunday’s protests marked the eighth consecutive weekend that Hongkongers have taken to the streets in protests that began over an extradition bill that would have allowed wanted suspects to be sent to mainland China.
The government said police had begun to disperse protesters, adding that they had set a cart on fire and pushed it towards the police, “seriously affecting the safety of everyone at the scene”. “Police condemn the protestors’ escalating violence and appeal to everyone at the scene to stay calm,” a statement said.
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.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.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 KongLily Kuo in Beijing and Verna Yu in Hong Kong
Protesters have been demonstrating for more than seven weeks; Sunday’s protest was the third consecutive day of mass dissent. On Sunday night, protesters appeared determined to continue. As the police fired continuous rounds of teargas into crowds on Sunday, some protesters fell to ground choking. One group sought refuge in a nearby apartment building when residents opened the gate, ushering them in. Demonstrators collapsed on the stairwell, some of them crying.
“They see us as a threat because we are having an impact,” said Jonathan, 19, who had covered his face with a scarf and had armed himself with an improvised shield made from a kickboard. “Even though the protesters are peaceful, they keep throwing the teargas. I don’t know why they keep throwing,” said Hinton, 16, who had tears in his eyes after being gassed.
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. Police said they used teargas to disperse protesters who were hurling bricks at them but protesters insisted police fired first. “We are trying to protect our own freedom. We are doing this for this place, our place. I’ll be honest, I did throw things because I’m that angry,” said one protester, Angus, 24.
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. The protesters were then pushed back to smaller roads in Sheung Wan, a normally busy neighbourhood turned into a ghost town after shops closed and residents were warned to stay inside. Tourists and residents ran from the scene, covering their eyes and mouths.
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. Before midnight, the police had surrounded the protesters, shielding themselves with wooden boards and street signs. Teargas was lobbed at the protesters from all directions, shrouding the road and forcing the protesters to enter a mass transit station and leave.
“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”. Some protesters said the police appeared to escalating their tactics, with officers firing on protesters earlier and more frequently. “I can’t even count how many rounds of teargas they used,” said Roy Chan, 39.
“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.” In a statement, the government said protesters had pushed a cart of burning cardboard at police, “threatening the safety of police officers and members of public”. The government said it would “continue to give full support to police to strictly enforce the law to stop all violent behaviours”.
Robert Kwok, 55, another demonstrator, said: “If we draw back, we lose everything.” Organisers for Sunday’s event had originally planned to march from central Hong Kong to Sheung Wan to condemn the police for firing teargas and rubber bullets on protesters last weekend. The police did not grant a permit for the march – the second time authorities have rejected a protest request – following a ban on the Saturday rally in Yuen Long.
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. Protesters fear authorities will adopt this line more in the future. On Sunday, one of the organisers of the Yuen Long rally, Max Chung, was arrested by police 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. Some say the situation risks spiralling out of control as the public doubts the Hong Kong government’s ability to govern and Beijing is likely to pressure Hong Kong authorities to take a harder line on protesters. As protesters continue to clash with police, people have only grown more frustrated, fuelling yet more demonstrations.
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.” “There’s a lot of public anger and I don’t think that’s going to go away soon,” said James Yip, 27, part of the group of protesters leaving Sheung Wan. “I think everyone is exhausted on both side, pro-government and pro-democracy.”
Exhaustion among protests appears to have set in as well. Amy Yeung, 26, has been attending as many protests as she can. “I am mentally tired. Watching the news, you cry,” she said. “But at least standing here, we are giving the message that we are not alone.”
On Sunday, protesters said they were more angry than exhausted and would continue. Jonathan, 19, who was resting on a curb away from the frontline in between rounds of teargas, said: “They see us as a threat because we are having an impact.”
Residents have seen Beijing’s influence over Hong Kong grow in recent years, as activists have been jailed and pro-democracy lawmakers disqualified from running or holding office. Independent book sellers have disappeared from the city, to reappear in mainland China facing charges, a point critics of the extradition bill often make.
“It seems to us that this is our last chance. If we don’t do this now, we won’t be able to later,” said Eunice Chan, 55, who grew up in Hong Kong before it was returned to Chinese control in 1997.
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