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Hong Kong Protest Live Updates: Demonstrators Charge Legislature, Attempt to Break Glass Doors Hong Kong Protest Live Updates: Demonstrators Charge Legislature, Attempt to Break Glass Doors
(30 minutes later)
Demonstrations in Hong Kong turned violent on Monday when several protesters rammed steel bars and a metal cart against the glass doors of Hong Kong’s legislature in an attempt to storm the chambers. Police guarded the facility from within the building, holding signs warning the protesters that they would use force if the demonstrators charged. Several protesters rammed steel bars and a metal cart against the glass doors of Hong Kong’s legislature on Monday afternoon in an attempt to storm the chambers just hours after the government held a ceremony commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the territory’s return to China from Britain.
In the morning, thousands of demonstrators tried to march to the site of an annual ceremony on Monday morning commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the territory’s return to China from Britain, but were pushed back by hundreds of riot police officers with batons and pepper spray. Not all protesters supported the handful who attacked the Legislative Council in the early afternoon. Several democratic lawmakers tried to stop the protesters by positioning themselves between the demonstrators and the building.
Not all protesters supported the handful who were attempting to break the doors of the Legislative Council in the early afternoon. One of them, a democratic lawmaker, Leung Yiu-chung, tried to stop the protesters several times but was held back by others. The police said they condemned the violence at the legislature and said that officers were exercising restraint. Riot police with gas masks guarded the facility from within the building, holding up shields and signs warning the protesters that they would use force if the demonstrators charged.
Protesters who had been hit with pepper spray stumbled to the side and sought help at medical stations set up by supporters. Some poured water over their bodies. “I think most of the Hong Kong people are in no mood to celebrate,” Lam Cheuk-ting, a democratic lawmaker who joined the protesters, said of the July 1 holiday. “We urge Carrie Lam to step down as soon as possible, because she has refused to listen to the Hong Kong people for so long.” The mayhem followed protests in the morning that saw thousands of demonstrators trying to march to the site of the government ceremony that was attended by the city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam. Hundreds of riot police officers pushed them back with batons and pepper spray.
Protesters who had been hit with pepper spray in the morning stumbled to the side and sought help at medical stations set up by supporters. Some poured water over their bodies. “I think most of the Hong Kong people are in no mood to celebrate,” Lam Cheuk-ting, a democratic lawmaker who joined the protesters, said of the July 1 holiday. “We urge Carrie Lam to step down as soon as possible, because she has refused to listen to the Hong Kong people for so long.”
The government said around midday that demonstrators had attacked police lines and thrown an unidentified liquid at officers. Some officers reported difficulties breathing and irritated skin, and 13 were sent to the hospital, the government said in a statement. “Police strongly condemn such illegal acts and will stringently follow up,” it said.The government said around midday that demonstrators had attacked police lines and thrown an unidentified liquid at officers. Some officers reported difficulties breathing and irritated skin, and 13 were sent to the hospital, the government said in a statement. “Police strongly condemn such illegal acts and will stringently follow up,” it said.
Huge crowds of demonstrators have taken to Hong Kong’s streets in the past several weeks, protesting a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China.Huge crowds of demonstrators have taken to Hong Kong’s streets in the past several weeks, protesting a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China.
The turnout of protesters on Monday morning was among the largest attempts to disrupt the Hong Kong government’s most important annual political event. It underscored the deepening anxiety that many in Hong Kong, which under the handover agreement is to maintain a high degree of autonomy from the mainland until 2047, feel about the erosion of the civil liberties that set the city apart.The turnout of protesters on Monday morning was among the largest attempts to disrupt the Hong Kong government’s most important annual political event. It underscored the deepening anxiety that many in Hong Kong, which under the handover agreement is to maintain a high degree of autonomy from the mainland until 2047, feel about the erosion of the civil liberties that set the city apart.
Mrs. Lam, the city’s chief executive, sought to strike a conciliatory note on Monday, pledging that she and her government would be more responsive to public sentiment. She was earlier criticized for insisting on pushing the unpopular legislation through despite an intense public outcry.Mrs. Lam, the city’s chief executive, sought to strike a conciliatory note on Monday, pledging that she and her government would be more responsive to public sentiment. She was earlier criticized for insisting on pushing the unpopular legislation through despite an intense public outcry.
“I will learn the lesson and ensure that the government’s future work will be closer and more responsive to the aspirations, sentiments and opinions of the community,” Mrs. Lam said at the official ceremony commemorating the handover anniversary. “The first and most basic step to take is to change the government’s style of governance to make it more open and accommodating.”“I will learn the lesson and ensure that the government’s future work will be closer and more responsive to the aspirations, sentiments and opinions of the community,” Mrs. Lam said at the official ceremony commemorating the handover anniversary. “The first and most basic step to take is to change the government’s style of governance to make it more open and accommodating.”
Mrs. Lam said she would make more time to meet with people from different political backgrounds and reach out to the city’s youth. She said that Hong Kong’s economy could feel the repercussions of a protracted trade war between the United States and China and urged Hong Kong residents to work with the government on managing the impact of the trade dispute and addressing the housing shortage and other issues.Mrs. Lam said she would make more time to meet with people from different political backgrounds and reach out to the city’s youth. She said that Hong Kong’s economy could feel the repercussions of a protracted trade war between the United States and China and urged Hong Kong residents to work with the government on managing the impact of the trade dispute and addressing the housing shortage and other issues.
She and other officials, who arrived at the ceremony site by ferry to avoid roads blocked by protesters, watched a flag-raising on a closed-circuit video from inside a convention center where the event had been moved, the government said, to avoid rain. Helicopters flying the flags of Hong Kong and China flew around the island.She and other officials, who arrived at the ceremony site by ferry to avoid roads blocked by protesters, watched a flag-raising on a closed-circuit video from inside a convention center where the event had been moved, the government said, to avoid rain. Helicopters flying the flags of Hong Kong and China flew around the island.
During Mrs. Lam’s speech, Helena Wong, an opposition lawmaker who attended the ceremony, shouted calls for the chief executive to resign and for the extradition bill to be withdrawn. Security guards quickly removed her from the room.During Mrs. Lam’s speech, Helena Wong, an opposition lawmaker who attended the ceremony, shouted calls for the chief executive to resign and for the extradition bill to be withdrawn. Security guards quickly removed her from the room.
The broad public anger has already forced Mrs. Lam to suspend the proposed legislation, but demonstrators want it to be fully withdrawn and have also turned their scrutiny on the police, whom they say acted with excessive force in dispersing a June 12 protest. A march was planned for later in the day that pro-democracy organizers said was expected to draw a large turnout.The broad public anger has already forced Mrs. Lam to suspend the proposed legislation, but demonstrators want it to be fully withdrawn and have also turned their scrutiny on the police, whom they say acted with excessive force in dispersing a June 12 protest. A march was planned for later in the day that pro-democracy organizers said was expected to draw a large turnout.
Even as many in Hong Kong denounced the police for its use of force on demonstrators last month, others defended the police.Even as many in Hong Kong denounced the police for its use of force on demonstrators last month, others defended the police.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of people attended a rally in support of the police, with some holding signs praising the Hong Kong police as the “best in Asia.”On Sunday, tens of thousands of people attended a rally in support of the police, with some holding signs praising the Hong Kong police as the “best in Asia.”
The police force came under criticism for using tear gas, rubber bullets and beanbag rounds to disperse a demonstration on June 12.The police force came under criticism for using tear gas, rubber bullets and beanbag rounds to disperse a demonstration on June 12.
On two occasions since, hundreds, or as many as thousands, of mostly young protesters have surrounded the police headquarters for hours, barricading entrances and defacing walls.On two occasions since, hundreds, or as many as thousands, of mostly young protesters have surrounded the police headquarters for hours, barricading entrances and defacing walls.
Mrs. Lam’s deputy, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, sought to ease tensions and assuage the protesters on Sunday by saying that the government would now “listen to criticism with humility.”Mrs. Lam’s deputy, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, sought to ease tensions and assuage the protesters on Sunday by saying that the government would now “listen to criticism with humility.”
In a post on his official blog, Mr. Cheung said the government would lose its “paternalistic mind-set” and pay greater attention to the youth, who have been a major force behind the recent protests.In a post on his official blog, Mr. Cheung said the government would lose its “paternalistic mind-set” and pay greater attention to the youth, who have been a major force behind the recent protests.
In recent days, some protesters have also turned their attention to the government’s long-planned move to rezone a 160-yard strip of a public waterfront as a dock for the People’s Liberation Army, the Chinese military, which has maintained a largely symbolic presence in the territory.In recent days, some protesters have also turned their attention to the government’s long-planned move to rezone a 160-yard strip of a public waterfront as a dock for the People’s Liberation Army, the Chinese military, which has maintained a largely symbolic presence in the territory.
The transfer of the land began in 2013, when the government applied for the strip of waterfront to be rezoned for military use. But activists opposed to the transfer have found new support from the protest movement against the extradition bill.The transfer of the land began in 2013, when the government applied for the strip of waterfront to be rezoned for military use. But activists opposed to the transfer have found new support from the protest movement against the extradition bill.
The New York Times reviewed hundreds of videos and photos posted online by witnesses, along with submissions to our WhatsApp tip line, to assess whether the Hong Kong police used excessive force at the June 12 protest. Experts at Amnesty International, a human rights group, helped examine the images. We spoke to specialists in crowd control and interviewed more than two dozen protesters.The New York Times reviewed hundreds of videos and photos posted online by witnesses, along with submissions to our WhatsApp tip line, to assess whether the Hong Kong police used excessive force at the June 12 protest. Experts at Amnesty International, a human rights group, helped examine the images. We spoke to specialists in crowd control and interviewed more than two dozen protesters.
The videos show protesters being beaten by police officers, shot with riot-control ammunition, dragged on the ground and hit with tear gas during large-scale confrontations near Hong Kong’s government headquarters.The videos show protesters being beaten by police officers, shot with riot-control ammunition, dragged on the ground and hit with tear gas during large-scale confrontations near Hong Kong’s government headquarters.
The authorities began to use force after a small group of protesters threw bricks, bottles and umbrellas at officers and tried to push through rings of heavily armored police guarding the Legislative Council. But the protests were largely peaceful, and human rights groups have denounced the actions of the police as excessive and illegal. Hong Kong officials say the police officers acted with restraint.The authorities began to use force after a small group of protesters threw bricks, bottles and umbrellas at officers and tried to push through rings of heavily armored police guarding the Legislative Council. But the protests were largely peaceful, and human rights groups have denounced the actions of the police as excessive and illegal. Hong Kong officials say the police officers acted with restraint.
For weeks, protesters in Hong Kong have organized demonstrations that are not only larger but also arguably more effective than the Umbrella Movement of 2014, when demonstrators blocked major roadways for weeks in a failed campaign for more open elections.For weeks, protesters in Hong Kong have organized demonstrations that are not only larger but also arguably more effective than the Umbrella Movement of 2014, when demonstrators blocked major roadways for weeks in a failed campaign for more open elections.
This time, the protesters have more concrete demands and are also adopting new tactics. Young protesters have blocked roads and disrupted government services in response to anonymous calls in encrypted chat apps and online forums. Others have raised money online to pay for an international advertising campaign, including running an open letter in The New York Times.This time, the protesters have more concrete demands and are also adopting new tactics. Young protesters have blocked roads and disrupted government services in response to anonymous calls in encrypted chat apps and online forums. Others have raised money online to pay for an international advertising campaign, including running an open letter in The New York Times.
A distinctive feature of this year’s movement is that it has been somewhat leaderless. Decisions on when, where and how to protest have often been made collectively on social media platforms where users are anonymous and proposed plans are agreed to through “likes” and so-called upvotes.A distinctive feature of this year’s movement is that it has been somewhat leaderless. Decisions on when, where and how to protest have often been made collectively on social media platforms where users are anonymous and proposed plans are agreed to through “likes” and so-called upvotes.
Tiffany May, Katherine Li, Javier Hernandez, Austin Ramzy, Gillian Wong and Ezra Cheung contributed reporting.Tiffany May, Katherine Li, Javier Hernandez, Austin Ramzy, Gillian Wong and Ezra Cheung contributed reporting.