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Hong Kong: Petrol bombs tossed at police in latest protest | Hong Kong: Petrol bombs tossed at police in latest protest |
(32 minutes later) | |
A group of hardcore protesters threw petrol bombs at a police station as violence flared in Hong Kong during a banned march that drew thousands. | A group of hardcore protesters threw petrol bombs at a police station as violence flared in Hong Kong during a banned march that drew thousands. |
Authorities refused permission for a march through an upmarket shopping area, citing public order concerns. | Authorities refused permission for a march through an upmarket shopping area, citing public order concerns. |
But large numbers defied authorities, with a small group of black-clad protesters attacking a police station. | |
Hong Kong has been convulsed by pro-democracy protests for more than four months. | |
The unrest in the territory, which is part of China but enjoys unique freedoms, has been the worst crisis since the British handover in 1997. | |
At the Tsim Sha Tsui police station, officers fired tear gas as the building's gate was set on fire, before deploying a water cannon to clear the area. | |
Elsewhere, shops and Chinese banks were vandalised. | Elsewhere, shops and Chinese banks were vandalised. |
Not all of Sunday's demonstrators engaged in violence. Although the rally was illegal, it began peacefully. | |
What caused Sunday's clashes? | What caused Sunday's clashes? |
The anger of the crowd was partly fuelled by an attack on pro-democracy leader Jimmy Sham earlier this week which left him in hospital. He was set upon by five men with hammers in the Mong Kok district of Kowloon. | The anger of the crowd was partly fuelled by an attack on pro-democracy leader Jimmy Sham earlier this week which left him in hospital. He was set upon by five men with hammers in the Mong Kok district of Kowloon. |
On Saturday, another man who was reportedly handing out pro-democracy flyers was stabbed. | On Saturday, another man who was reportedly handing out pro-democracy flyers was stabbed. |
Numbers attending protests have dropped from their peak. The movement has seen hundreds of thousands taking part in demonstrations on several occasions. | Numbers attending protests have dropped from their peak. The movement has seen hundreds of thousands taking part in demonstrations on several occasions. |
"The government are now refusing to authorise any peaceful protest," a demonstrator named Avery said on Sunday. "That means anyone who comes out will inherently be breaking the law. So that's the tactic the Hong Kong government is using." | "The government are now refusing to authorise any peaceful protest," a demonstrator named Avery said on Sunday. "That means anyone who comes out will inherently be breaking the law. So that's the tactic the Hong Kong government is using." |
Is there any solution in sight? | Is there any solution in sight? |
Originally, the protests were prompted by outrage at a new law that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China. | Originally, the protests were prompted by outrage at a new law that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China. |
People in Hong Kong are fiercely protective of their legal system and enhanced personal rights, which are governed under an arrangement known as "one country, two systems". | People in Hong Kong are fiercely protective of their legal system and enhanced personal rights, which are governed under an arrangement known as "one country, two systems". |
But they have grown increasingly concerned that China seeks greater control. | But they have grown increasingly concerned that China seeks greater control. |
The extradition bill was eventually scrapped but the protest movement has broadened to include four other demands: | The extradition bill was eventually scrapped but the protest movement has broadened to include four other demands: |
Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam is seen by many pro-democracy campaigners as a mouthpiece for Beijing – something she fiercely denies. | Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam is seen by many pro-democracy campaigners as a mouthpiece for Beijing – something she fiercely denies. |
Ms Lam was forced to abandon her major annual speech in parliament this week after opposition lawmakers heckled her, brandishing banners and shouting slogans. | Ms Lam was forced to abandon her major annual speech in parliament this week after opposition lawmakers heckled her, brandishing banners and shouting slogans. |
Her speech, calling for an end to the protests, eventually had to be delivered by pre-recorded video. | Her speech, calling for an end to the protests, eventually had to be delivered by pre-recorded video. |
US lawmakers, meanwhile, have backed the pro-democracy movement by passing a bill in the House of Representatives supporting them. | US lawmakers, meanwhile, have backed the pro-democracy movement by passing a bill in the House of Representatives supporting them. |
American companies, including video game firm Blizzard and the National Basketball Association, have also found themselves embroiled in the political crisis. | American companies, including video game firm Blizzard and the National Basketball Association, have also found themselves embroiled in the political crisis. |