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Hong Kong protesters march to train station to send message to China Hong Kong protesters march to train station to send message to China
(about 3 hours later)
Tens of thousands of protesters have marched to keep up the pressure on the Hong Kong government to withdraw the extradition bill that has been the subject of a series of mass rallies over the past month.Tens of thousands of protesters have marched to keep up the pressure on the Hong Kong government to withdraw the extradition bill that has been the subject of a series of mass rallies over the past month.
The march on Sunday was the first since the storming of Hong Kong’s legislature by protesters on Monday, a move that drew strong condemnation from the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. The march on Sunday, which continued late into the night, was the first since the storming of Hong Kong’s legislature by protesters last Monday, a move that drew strong condemnation from the Chinese and Hong Kong governments.
The crowds on Sunday were made up mostly of young people but there were also many middle-aged and elderly protesters. Apart from calling for the full withdrawal of the bill, which the government has suspended, the demands have broadened to include democratic reforms. The atmosphere turned tense late on Sunday night while protesters who armed themselves with umbrellas and police in riot gear were locked in a stand-off in the commercial district of Mongkok.
“Hong Kongers, go for it!”, “Retract the bill!”, “Implement genuine universal suffrage!” chanted the spirited and noisy crowds to the rhythms of drumbeats. Others chanted “There are no rioters, only violent regimes!”, “Free Hong Kong!” and “Release the righteous fighters!” The march – which had been given official permission by the police – started around 3.30pm local time at a park by the harbourfront at Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon peninsula, an area popular with tourists.
Several waved giant colonial-era flags – which include the British union flag – while others held blue flags emblazoned with “HK Independence”. Although it officially ended by early evening, when most of the crowds dispersed after reaching the West Kowloon railway terminus, where high-speed trains link Hong Kong with Chinese cities, protesters began to fill the commercial area in Tsim Sha Tsui in the evening.
“I am here to support the young people. It is our fault that we hadn’t spoken out earlier to fight for more freedoms so the task is upon the young now. And they’re so desperate and despondent,” said 68-year-old Mary, referring to last Monday’s storming of the legislature building. Late into Sunday evening, protesters continued to march down Nathan Road, the main thoroughfare in Kowloon, occupying half a street. They chanted slogans as they marched northwards, passing Yau Ma Tei and heading towards Mong Kok. After reaching Mongkok, police in riot gear formed into a line to stop protesters from advancing and demanded that they left.
Hong Kong’s authorities appeared nervous that Sunday’s march might turn violent. Police erected giant water-filled barricades to lock down the areas around the West Kowloon railway terminus, where the march was supposed to end, in anticipation of large numbers of protesters. They also closed and diverted several roads in the area. The railway company suspended sales of tickets for high-speed trains to and from the terminus on Sunday afternoon. “Cruel police! Cruel police!” chanted protesters, wearing goggles, masks and holding up umbrellas to shield themselves in case police shot tear gas.
Organisers used loudhailers to urge protesters to remain peaceful during the rally, which had been sanctioned by the police. “I’d rather sit at home enjoying air-conditioning in this hot weather, but it is the government who forced us to keep protesting,” said a young man who declined to be identified.
Unlike other recent protests, which took place on Hong Kong island where the government headquarters and the legislature are located, the protest on Sunday took place on the Kowloon peninsula. Although Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam has offered to meet university student representatives behind closed doors, he said she had showed no sign of giving in to any of the protesters’ political demands and he was tired of Lam “sounding like a broken record” in her reiteration of her position.
The march started at a park by the harbour front at Tsim Sha Tsui, an area popular with tourists, and was planned to finish at the West Kowloon railway terminus, where high-speed trains link Hong Kong with mainland Chinese cities.
Organisers said online that the march was aimed at telling mainland Chinese visitors arriving at the train station or people travelling to China why they were protesting about the extradition bill.
Emotions have been running high in Hong Kong over the past month during its biggest political crisis in decades. Millions of people have thronged the streets to protest against a proposed law allowing for the extradition of individuals to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist party.
Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, has apologised for the crisis, but protesters have demanded that the government fully withdraw the bill and release all those arrested in previous protests.Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, has apologised for the crisis, but protesters have demanded that the government fully withdraw the bill and release all those arrested in previous protests.
They also want the government to launch an independent investigation into the police’s use of force on 12 June, when teargas, rubber bullets and truncheons were used on largely peaceful crowds. They also want the government to launch an independent investigation into the police’s use of force on 12 June, when teargas, rubber bullets and truncheons were used on largely peaceful crowds. Protesters also called on the government to implement universal suffrage.
Tensions erupted on Monday, the anniversary of Hong Kong’s 1997 return from British to Chinese rule, when hundreds of angry protesters stormed and vandalised the legislature. Police fired teargas after midnight to disperse them. “We want genuine universal suffrage!”, “Free Hong Kong!”, “Hong Kongers, go for it!”, and “Retract the bill!”, chanted the spirited and noisy crowds to the rhythms of occasional drum beats earlier in the day.
Some held up yellow banners and umbrellas to call for universal suffrage. Several waved giant colonial-era flags – which include the British union flag – while others and blue flags emblazoned with “Hong Kong Independence”.
Umbrellas were the symbol of the last major set of protests in Hong Kong, the 79-day Umbrella Movement in 2014, which demanded an unfettered vote for ordinary citizens after China ruled that all candidates for Hong Kong’s top leadership job must receive over half of the votes from a largely pro-Beijing nominating committee of 1,200 members, which would select two or three candidates, before going before voters. The civil disobedience movement failed to press Beijing to grant genuine universal suffrage and this has become a source of political tension ever since.
“I am here to support the young people. It is our fault that we hadn’t spoken out earlier to fight for more freedoms so the task is upon the young now. And they’re so desperate and despondent,” said 68-year-old Mary, who did not wish to give her last name, referring to last Monday’s storming of the legislature building.
Hong Kong’s authorities appeared nervous that Sunday’s march might turn violent. Police erected giant water-filled barricades outside the West Kowloon railway terminus and closed many entrances to stop protesters from getting in. They also closed and diverted several roads in the area for the protest. The railway company suspended sales of tickets for high-speed trains to and from the terminus on Sunday afternoon.
Emotions have been running high in Hong Kong over the past month during its biggest political crisis in decades. Millions of people have thronged the streets to protest against a proposed law allowing for the extradition of individuals to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist party.
Tensions erupted last Monday, the anniversary of Hong Kong’s 1997 return from British to Chinese rule, when hundreds of angry protesters stormed and vandalised the legislature. Police fired teargas after midnight to disperse them.
Protesters on Sunday said even though police had started arresting people involved in earlier protests, it would not dampen their resolve. “We will keep coming out until the government respond to us. If they keep ignoring us, people can only escalate their fight,” said a young woman who gave her name as Mimi.Protesters on Sunday said even though police had started arresting people involved in earlier protests, it would not dampen their resolve. “We will keep coming out until the government respond to us. If they keep ignoring us, people can only escalate their fight,” said a young woman who gave her name as Mimi.
“The government doesn’t give a damn about us -- protesting is our only hope,” said Vivian Li, a mother of two toddlers.
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