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Hong Kong protest leader Jimmy Sham 'attacked with hammers' | Hong Kong protest leader Jimmy Sham 'attacked with hammers' |
(32 minutes later) | |
The leader of one of Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy groups has been taken to hospital after being attacked. | The leader of one of Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy groups has been taken to hospital after being attacked. |
Photographs on social media showed Jimmy Sham of the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) lying in the street, covered in blood. | Photographs on social media showed Jimmy Sham of the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) lying in the street, covered in blood. |
Afterwards, the activist said he "remained committed to the ideal of peaceful non-violence". | |
Mass protests in support of greater democracy in the territory, which began in June, show no sign of abating. | |
The attack on Mr Sham came hours after the territory's leader suspended her annual address after being heckled in parliament. | |
What happened to Jimmy Sham? | What happened to Jimmy Sham? |
The CHRF said he was set upon by a group of up to five hammer-wielding men in the Mong Kok district of the Kowloon peninsula, and left with head injuries. | The CHRF said he was set upon by a group of up to five hammer-wielding men in the Mong Kok district of the Kowloon peninsula, and left with head injuries. |
It added that he was conscious as he was taken to hospital, and was in a stable condition. | It added that he was conscious as he was taken to hospital, and was in a stable condition. |
It was the second time Mr Sham had been attacked since the protests began. | It was the second time Mr Sham had been attacked since the protests began. |
The CHRF linked the attack to government supporters, who are suspected of assaulting other pro-democracy activists in recent months. | The CHRF linked the attack to government supporters, who are suspected of assaulting other pro-democracy activists in recent months. |
"It is not hard to link this incident to a spreading political terror in order to threaten and inhibit the legitimate exercise of natural and legal rights," it said in a statement. | "It is not hard to link this incident to a spreading political terror in order to threaten and inhibit the legitimate exercise of natural and legal rights," it said in a statement. |
Who is he? | |
Jimmy Sham is a long-time political activist in Hong Kong, mostly known for campaigning for LGBT rights. | |
In the anti-government protests he has been one of the leaders of the Civil Human Rights Front, one of the non-violent protest groups behind several of the huge marches since June. | |
The group said it was applying for a police permit to hold a new march on Sunday. | |
Its recent requests have been rejected, while more hardcore activists have held protests in defiance of bans and clashed with police. | |
While still in hospital, Mr Sham released a statement on Facebook, saying the attack "only enables me to connect even more" with fellow protesters. | |
He also thanked the police for swiftly arriving to help him and urged them to find who was behind the assault. | |
Amnesty International has urged the authorities to launch an investigation into the attack on Mr Sham. | Amnesty International has urged the authorities to launch an investigation into the attack on Mr Sham. |
"Jimmy Sham was left bleeding on the street and has been hospitalised with head injuries. | "Jimmy Sham was left bleeding on the street and has been hospitalised with head injuries. |
"Even in the context of increasing attacks on activists, this incident is shocking in its brutality," said the head of the rights group's East Asia regional office, Joshua Rosenzwei. | "Even in the context of increasing attacks on activists, this incident is shocking in its brutality," said the head of the rights group's East Asia regional office, Joshua Rosenzwei. |
What happened in parliament on Wednesday? | |
Opposition lawmakers disrupted the Legislative Council (Legco) session as Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam tried to make her annual address. | Opposition lawmakers disrupted the Legislative Council (Legco) session as Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam tried to make her annual address. |
After a first interruption, the session resumed only to be interrupted again. | After a first interruption, the session resumed only to be interrupted again. |
It was then suspended - and a pre-recorded speech by Ms Lam was made available on the Legco website instead. | It was then suspended - and a pre-recorded speech by Ms Lam was made available on the Legco website instead. |
It was the first time a Hong Kong chief executive had been unable to deliver a policy address in the chamber. | It was the first time a Hong Kong chief executive had been unable to deliver a policy address in the chamber. |
It meant a controversial extradition bill - the trigger for the months of protests - could not be withdrawn formally. | It meant a controversial extradition bill - the trigger for the months of protests - could not be withdrawn formally. |
During a news conference after the video address, Ms Lam rejected claims that her speech had ignored the demands of the protest movement. | During a news conference after the video address, Ms Lam rejected claims that her speech had ignored the demands of the protest movement. |
But she said it was not the time to consider voting reform, while insisting Hong Kong did have freedom of speech and freedom of the press without Chinese interference. | But she said it was not the time to consider voting reform, while insisting Hong Kong did have freedom of speech and freedom of the press without Chinese interference. |
What are the Hong Kong protests about? | What are the Hong Kong protests about? |
Hong Kong is part of China but, as a former British colony, has some autonomy and people have more rights. | Hong Kong is part of China but, as a former British colony, has some autonomy and people have more rights. |
The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence. | The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence. |
The government in September promised the bill would be withdrawn once parliament resumed but demonstrations continued. | The government in September promised the bill would be withdrawn once parliament resumed but demonstrations continued. |
Protesters are now calling for five key demands: | Protesters are now calling for five key demands: |
Protests have taken place every weekend over the past month and in every district, causing widespread disruption. | Protests have taken place every weekend over the past month and in every district, causing widespread disruption. |
Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs. | Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs. |
How did the protests escalate? | How did the protests escalate? |