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Hong Kong protest: police fire rounds of tear gas at protesters trying to leave campus – live Hong Kong protest: police fire rounds of tear gas at protesters trying to leave campus – live
(32 minutes later)
Police pulled back after attempted dawn raid on Polytechnic University was met with firePolice pulled back after attempted dawn raid on Polytechnic University was met with fire
Thanks for following our rolling coverage of the latest developments in Hong Kong. We are going to pause the liveblog now, but will continue in-depth coverage.
Here is our full news story on what happened today.
To recap:
Protesters and police remain locked in a standoff at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Hong Kong’s High Court has ruled that a ban on masks and face-coverings is unconstitutional.
Hundreds of people in other parts of the city have been arrested as they express support for those within the university.
Confusion reigns over whether protesters can leave the university. At 7am, they were told by the Poly U president that they could leave the campus under a police ceasefire – but they were driven back inside by round after round of teargas.
At 12pm, police told protesters to lay down their weapons and leave peacefully, but a source told media that they could still be arrested.
Police claimed they shot teargas at the earlier attempt to leave because protesters threw petrol bombs and charged at officers.
A senior United States official has condemned the “unjustified use of force” and says they are monitoring events in Hong Kong.
The ban on face coverings was enabled by the declaration of emergency powers, under a colonial British-era rule that had not been used since 1967.
The emergency regulations ordinance was created by the British in 1922, and grants the government power to “make any regulations” in the public interest during “an occasion of emergency or public danger”.
Chief executive Carrie Lam had declared the ordinance in October, and used it to pass the anti-mask rule.
But that declaration of emergency powers was itself not overruled by today’s High Court judgment.
Some text of the judgment below.Some text of the judgment below.
The court found that the mask ban went “further than is reasonably necessary”, and was a “restriction on fundamental rights”.The court found that the mask ban went “further than is reasonably necessary”, and was a “restriction on fundamental rights”.
The ban on face coverings failed a test of proportionality. Though it was “rationally connected to legitimate societal aims”, it went too far.The ban on face coverings failed a test of proportionality. Though it was “rationally connected to legitimate societal aims”, it went too far.
Breaking news. The High Court has ruled the ban on face masks and coverings, established in October, unconstitutional.Breaking news. The High Court has ruled the ban on face masks and coverings, established in October, unconstitutional.
More details to come soon.More details to come soon.
Two big updates on the standoff at Poly U, from the South China Morning Post.Two big updates on the standoff at Poly U, from the South China Morning Post.
Quoting a police source, the newspaper reports that protesters will still be arrested if they leave Poly U peacefully.Quoting a police source, the newspaper reports that protesters will still be arrested if they leave Poly U peacefully.
Earlier, the police had told protesters to “drop their weapons”, take off gas masks and leave through one particular exit.Earlier, the police had told protesters to “drop their weapons”, take off gas masks and leave through one particular exit.
“We may record that they leave peacefully for future court reference,” the police source said, but confirmed they could still be arrested.“We may record that they leave peacefully for future court reference,” the police source said, but confirmed they could still be arrested.
At the same time, SCMP correspondent Jeffie Lam reports that the council chairman of Poly U had asked Hong Kong police to meet to discuss “how to resolve the crisis in a peaceful manner”.At the same time, SCMP correspondent Jeffie Lam reports that the council chairman of Poly U had asked Hong Kong police to meet to discuss “how to resolve the crisis in a peaceful manner”.
But police are yet to reply.But police are yet to reply.
The acting president of the student union, Ken Woo, also claims more than 600 people remain inside the university, higher than previous estimates of 200.The acting president of the student union, Ken Woo, also claims more than 600 people remain inside the university, higher than previous estimates of 200.
Earlier today, chief executive Carrie Lam visited an injured police officer in hospital.Earlier today, chief executive Carrie Lam visited an injured police officer in hospital.
The officer had been shot in the leg with an arrow on Sunday during the early stages of the Poly U standoff.The officer had been shot in the leg with an arrow on Sunday during the early stages of the Poly U standoff.
An escalating situation along Gascoigne Road, in Jordan, on the outskirts of Poly U.An escalating situation along Gascoigne Road, in Jordan, on the outskirts of Poly U.
Police are currently advancing along the road and firing tear gas, while protesters respond with “at least one petrol bomb”, according to the South China Morning Post.Police are currently advancing along the road and firing tear gas, while protesters respond with “at least one petrol bomb”, according to the South China Morning Post.
Protesters and police are 100 metres apart, SCMP report.Protesters and police are 100 metres apart, SCMP report.
Here is Deutsche Welle reporter Phoebe Kong on the same theme.Here is Deutsche Welle reporter Phoebe Kong on the same theme.
The Foreign Correspondents Club has condemned the police obstruction of media coverage of the Poly U standoff.The Foreign Correspondents Club has condemned the police obstruction of media coverage of the Poly U standoff.
The FCC says journalists were blocked from entry and exit, searched and threatened with arrest under riot charges.The FCC says journalists were blocked from entry and exit, searched and threatened with arrest under riot charges.
They are also calling on police to investigate reports of an incident in Mong Kok where an officer allegedly targeted a journalist.They are also calling on police to investigate reports of an incident in Mong Kok where an officer allegedly targeted a journalist.
“The FCC calls on the police to conduct a thorough investigation of a police officer who allegedly targeted a journalist in Mong Kok this weekend with a sponge grenade. Police said the officer was put on leave and that they are investigating the incident.“The FCC calls on the police to conduct a thorough investigation of a police officer who allegedly targeted a journalist in Mong Kok this weekend with a sponge grenade. Police said the officer was put on leave and that they are investigating the incident.
“The FCC considers this a serious breach of press freedom and the right of the media under Hong Kong law to cover the protests free of intimidation or violence...We again call for an independent investigation into police violence against journalists and any interference with the media’s right under Hong Kong law to cover the unrest.”“The FCC considers this a serious breach of press freedom and the right of the media under Hong Kong law to cover the protests free of intimidation or violence...We again call for an independent investigation into police violence against journalists and any interference with the media’s right under Hong Kong law to cover the unrest.”
The full statement is here.The full statement is here.
On the outskirts of the university, a protester has also been shot in the forehead with a projectile and is bleeding, according to Hong Kong Free Press and the South China Morning Post.On the outskirts of the university, a protester has also been shot in the forehead with a projectile and is bleeding, according to Hong Kong Free Press and the South China Morning Post.
The man is on Gascogne Road outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei.The man is on Gascogne Road outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei.
At the same time, police have also fired tear gas into a crowd across the West Kowloon Corridor, the SCMP reports.At the same time, police have also fired tear gas into a crowd across the West Kowloon Corridor, the SCMP reports.
Hong Kong police have released a statement, calling on protesters to leave the campus via a specific route: the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge.Hong Kong police have released a statement, calling on protesters to leave the campus via a specific route: the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge.
Earlier, protesters had attempted to leave, but had been driven back in by multiple rounds of tear gas.Earlier, protesters had attempted to leave, but had been driven back in by multiple rounds of tear gas.
The statement has no indication of whether protesters will be arrested or not.The statement has no indication of whether protesters will be arrested or not.
“The police appeal to everyone inside the Polytechnic University to drop their weapons and dangerous items, remove their gas masks and leave via the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge in an orderly manner,” it says.“The police appeal to everyone inside the Polytechnic University to drop their weapons and dangerous items, remove their gas masks and leave via the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge in an orderly manner,” it says.
“They should follow police instructions and must not charge at police cordons.”“They should follow police instructions and must not charge at police cordons.”
The statement says tear gas was fired during the last attempt to leave because the protesters had thrown petrol bombs and “charged” at cordons.The statement says tear gas was fired during the last attempt to leave because the protesters had thrown petrol bombs and “charged” at cordons.
“After repeated warnings were ignored, police officers dispersed the rioters with tear gas, the minimum force necessary,” they said. “The rioters are hereby warned to stop their unlawful acts.”“After repeated warnings were ignored, police officers dispersed the rioters with tear gas, the minimum force necessary,” they said. “The rioters are hereby warned to stop their unlawful acts.”
Over the past two hours, attention has turned to the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui – outside Poly U – where over a hundred people have been arrested and detained in public.Over the past two hours, attention has turned to the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui – outside Poly U – where over a hundred people have been arrested and detained in public.
As those inside the campus continue their standoff with police, dozens of people outside, who have variously been trying to reach the university, provide support or ask police to lift the siege, have been arrested.As those inside the campus continue their standoff with police, dozens of people outside, who have variously been trying to reach the university, provide support or ask police to lift the siege, have been arrested.
A senior US official has also condemned the “unjustified use of force” in Hong Kong in recent days, and said they are monitoring the situation.A senior US official has also condemned the “unjustified use of force” in Hong Kong in recent days, and said they are monitoring the situation.
Earlier, the university president, Professor Teng Jin-guang, said he had negotiated a temporary suspension of the use of force with the police and urged protesters to “leave the campus in a peaceful manner”.Earlier, the university president, Professor Teng Jin-guang, said he had negotiated a temporary suspension of the use of force with the police and urged protesters to “leave the campus in a peaceful manner”.
But as protesters tried to leave the university, at 8.30am, they were stopped by “round after round” of tear gas, lasting a few minutes, forcing them back inside.But as protesters tried to leave the university, at 8.30am, they were stopped by “round after round” of tear gas, lasting a few minutes, forcing them back inside.
Protesters are now currently still inside the university campus, fearing that they will be trapped and arrested en masse by police.Protesters are now currently still inside the university campus, fearing that they will be trapped and arrested en masse by police.