Hong Kong - Hong Kong police used pepper
spray on Saturday to try to disperse anti-government protesters
who threw rocks and blocked a key road next to a huge
pro-democracy rally, near the local headquarters of China's
People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Protesters, many dressed all in black and wearing masks,
also shone lasers at a helicopter hovering overhead, as the
demonstrations took a now all-too familiar turn into violence as
they often have over the past three months.
Police were moving water cannon into position as protesters
shouted obscenities and daubed slogans on shop-fronts.
Thousands, young and old, had gathered peacefully at a
harbourside park to mark the fifth anniversary of the "Umbrella"
pro-democracy movement which gridlocked streets for 79 days in
2014. A band was playing Beatles music as the violence erupted.
The park sits in front of central government offices and the
Legislative Council, both of which have come under attack
before, sparking violent street battles with police.
"It’s a special day for Hong Kong protesters. We will stick
together to fight for freedom," said Sam, 33, dressed in black
and wearing a mask. "Most people think Hong Kong was dying after
five years, but many people are still fighting for Hong Kong."
A series of protests for and against Communist Party rulers
in Beijing is planned for the Chinese-ruled city ahead of the
70th anniversary of the People's Republic on Tuesday, including
at the consulate of former colonial power Britain.
The Hong Kong building of the Chinese state-owned investment
company CITIC, next to the Legislative Council, ran a huge
purple LED-lit banner down its front commemorating National Day.
Anti-government protesters have attacked the legislature,
Beijing's main Liaison Office, occupied the airport, thrown
petrol bombs at police, vandalised metro stations and set street
fires.
Police have responded with tear gas, water cannon, rubber
bullets and occasional live rounds fired into the air.
The MTR subway system closed entrances to some stations on
Saturday to prevent fresh attacks.
Pedestrians walk past a newly created Lennon Wall in Hong Kong. Picture: Vincent Yu/AP
LENNON WALLS
"They are not our children," China supporter Yau Mei-kwang
said of the frontline activists. "Because at this age, they
should be studying, not running to the airport, hitting people,
hitting the police, insulting people. That is not right."
A pro-democracy protester who only gave his name as Wong
defended the use of violence. "We know that they will not listen
if we rally in peace because we are not on the same level."
Protesters had spent the afternoon rebuilding "Lennon Walls"
of anti-government graffiti, some of which were torn down by
pro-Beijing activists last weekend.
The large mosaics of Post-it notes calling for democracy
have cropped up in underpasses, outside shopping centres, at bus
stops and universities and outside the Legislative Council.
Anti-government protesters are angry about what they see as
creeping Chinese interference in Hong Kong, which returned to
China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula
guaranteeing freedoms that are not enjoyed on the mainland.
China dismisses the accusation and has accused foreign
governments, including the United States and Britain, of fanning
anti-China sentiment. It has denounced the protests but said it
has faith in the Hong Kong government to resolve the crisis
without the use of PLA troops based in the territory.
Protesters appealed to Britain two weeks ago to rein in
China and ensure it respects the city's freedoms. They plan to
do so again on Tuesday.
Black-clad protesters wearing goggles and masks approach barricades outside government offices in Hong Kong. Picture: Vincent Thian/AP
BROADER MOVEMENT
Britain says it has a legal responsibility to ensure China
abides by the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. At the same
time, it wants closer trade and investment cooperation with
China after it leaves the European Union at the end of October.
Protests were sparked in June by planned legislation, since
withdrawn, that would have allowed the extradition of suspected
criminals to mainland China. But they have since expanded into a
broader pro-democracy movement.
One of the leaders of the protests, the bespectacled Joshua
Wong, 22, said on Saturday he would run for local district
council elections in November.
"It's time to let Emperor Xi (Chinese President Xi Jinping)
be aware that now is our battle," he told reporters. "We stand
in solidarity, we stand as one."
The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China marked
the Umbrella anniversary with a statement denouncing the
"accelerated erosion" of Hong Kong's autonomy.
"We call on the Hong Kong government to make the selection
of the Chief Executive and the election of all members of the
Legislative Council by universal suffrage a priority and take
concrete steps to strengthen Hong Kong’s autonomy," it said.
Dan Garrett, a U.S. academic who gave evidence before the
commission, said on Twitter he was not allowed to land in Hong
Kong on Thursday for the first time in 20 years of visiting and
living in the territory.
Official festivities for National Day have been scaled back,
with authorities keen to avoid embarrassing Beijing just as Xi
seeks to project an image of national strength and unity.