Riot police fired tear gas and charged on protesters in the wee hours of the morning today following anniversary celebrations that saw groups of activists breaking away and storming into parliament before occupying and ransacking the Legislative Council (LegCo) building.
The protest was planned by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) to coincide with the anniversary celebration of Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty to China from Britain.
The organiser of the celebration, Hong Kong Celebrations Association, comprises 40 pro-Beijing groups that fully back Carrie and her efforts to bulldoze an extradition law through parliament, a law CHRF says “will allow mainland China to pursue its political opponents in the city which until now has been a safe haven from the Communist party.”
Carrie agreed for the Bill to be suspended but did not concede to CHRF’s demand that it be withdrawn entirely.
SUBANG JAYA: Riot police fired tear gas and charged on protesters in the wee hours of the morning today following anniversary celebrations that saw groups of activists breaking away and storming into parliament before occupying and ransacking the Legislative Council (LegCo) building.
The protest followed weeks of unrest in the city over a controversial extradition law that has since been suspended by the Government of Hong Kong (GoHK).
On Tuesday, the 18thof June 2019, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lim backpedalled under pressure and publically apologised for having proposed the contentious legislation.
“I offer my most sincere apology to all people of Hong Kong,” Carrie said at a news conference at government headquarters.
“I’ve still got much to learn and do in better balancing diverse interests, in listening more to all walks of life and in taking our society forward,” she added.
Yesterday’s protest was planned by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) to coincide with the anniversary celebration of Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty to China from Britain.
The organiser of the celebration, Hong Kong Celebrations Association, comprises 40 pro-Beijing groups that fully back Carrie and her efforts to bulldoze the extradition law through parliament, a law CHRF says “will allow mainland China to pursue its political opponents in the city which until now has been a safe haven from the Communist party.”
A report by the BBCread:
Protesters clad in plastic helmets and brandishing umbrellas retreated from a baton charge by riot police, who quickly overcame the makeshift barriers in front of the building.
Inside, diehard protesters were pulled forcibly outside by their fellow occupants in an attempt to completely clear the building.
Democratic lawmakers Ted Hui and Roy Kwong stood in front of police asking them to allow demonstrators time to leave the area, the South China Morning Post reported.
Within an hour, the streets around the building were clear of everyone except the media and police. Officers then began searching the rooms of the LegCo building for any possible stragglers.
No arrests have yet been reported.
Carrie agreed for the Bill to be suspended but did not concede to CHRF’s demand that it be withdrawn entirely.
That appeared to the central thrust to yesterday’s protest that also saw demonstrators referring to Carrie’s apology and backpedalling as theatrics to mislead the people.
Their discontent seems to have morphed into a wider public display of dissatisfaction over alleged police brutality against protesters amid calls for Carrie to resign.
THE THIRD FORCE
