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Hong Kong Protests: Tens of Thousands Turn Out for Largest March in Weeks Hong Kong Protests: Hundreds of Thousands Turn Out for Largest March in Weeks
(30 minutes later)
HONG KONG — Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters turned out on Sunday in a show of anger at the Hong Kong government, six months into the semiautonomous city’s most protracted unrest in decades. HONG KONG — Hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy protesters turned out on Sunday in a show of anger at the Hong Kong government, six months into the semiautonomous city’s most protracted unrest in decades.
The march on Sunday followed the news of two American business leaders in Hong Kong who were stopped with no explanation from entering the neighboring Chinese city of Macau on Saturday.The march on Sunday followed the news of two American business leaders in Hong Kong who were stopped with no explanation from entering the neighboring Chinese city of Macau on Saturday.
The news of their denial of entry came at a tense moment in relations between China and the United States.The news of their denial of entry came at a tense moment in relations between China and the United States.
The Hong Kong protests began in June over legislation, since scrapped, that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, and have expanded to include a broad range of demands for police accountability and greater democracy.The Hong Kong protests began in June over legislation, since scrapped, that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, and have expanded to include a broad range of demands for police accountability and greater democracy.
Here’s the latest:Here’s the latest:
A sea of protesters poured into Hong Kong’s major thoroughfares, stretching two miles across downtown on Sunday afternoon for a march organized by the Civil Human Rights Front, which in recent months has led large, peaceful marches. A sea of protesters poured into Hong Kong’s major thoroughfares, stretching two miles across downtown on Sunday afternoon for a march organized by the Civil Human Rights Front, which in recent months has led large, peaceful marches. The group estimated that 800,000 people joined the march.
The march is meant to coincide with the United Nations’ Human Rights Day and was authorized by the police. Until this month, the police had recently banned most protests and rallies, prompting concerns about unnecessary restrictions on freedom of assembly. The rally is meant to coincide with the United Nations’ Human Rights Day and was authorized by the police. Until this month, the police had recently banned most protests and rallies, prompting concerns about unnecessary restrictions on freedom of assembly.
“It only takes one dictator to destroy the safeguard of human rights, but to safeguard a person’s rights must take the common efforts of everyone,” Jimmy Sham, the convener of the Civil Human Rights Front, told members of the crowd in speech ahead of the march, while protesters inched forward to lively drum beats and yelled out slogans.“It only takes one dictator to destroy the safeguard of human rights, but to safeguard a person’s rights must take the common efforts of everyone,” Jimmy Sham, the convener of the Civil Human Rights Front, told members of the crowd in speech ahead of the march, while protesters inched forward to lively drum beats and yelled out slogans.
The mood at the march appeared relaxed, with people taking selfies against a backdrop of the vast crowds. Small businesses also encouraged turnout by promising giveaways online if over a million people joined the march.The mood at the march appeared relaxed, with people taking selfies against a backdrop of the vast crowds. Small businesses also encouraged turnout by promising giveaways online if over a million people joined the march.
At sunset, a long stream of people continued to flood the streets, while squads of riot police officers waited near groups of protesters.At sunset, a long stream of people continued to flood the streets, while squads of riot police officers waited near groups of protesters.
Tamara Wong, a 33-year-old protester, said the government’s refusal to listen to the people would only lend more legitimacy to the more confrontational protesters, although she did not expect the authorities to make further concessions.Tamara Wong, a 33-year-old protester, said the government’s refusal to listen to the people would only lend more legitimacy to the more confrontational protesters, although she did not expect the authorities to make further concessions.
“The government keeps talking about protesting peacefully, so protest peacefully we shall, today,” Ms. Wong said. “If the government still does not respond after today, then they will only be showing the world that they are not listening and that some violence on the protesters’ side can be justified.”“The government keeps talking about protesting peacefully, so protest peacefully we shall, today,” Ms. Wong said. “If the government still does not respond after today, then they will only be showing the world that they are not listening and that some violence on the protesters’ side can be justified.”
“Because what else can we do?” she added.“Because what else can we do?” she added.
Tensions rose briefly as night fell, when a crowd of demonstrators blocked a street in the Central business district and riot officers threatened to fire crowd-control weapons beyond the marching route approved by the police, although the gathering was technically authorized until 10 p.m.
A small fire was set outside a closed gate to the city’s High Court, a relatively uncommon move that targeted the judiciary. Messages vowing to escalate tactics if the movement’s demands were not met circulated on the internet during the protest.
Earlier Sunday, the police said they had found a 9 millimeter semiautomatic pistol, five magazines, 105 bullets and two ballistic vests as well as fireworks, among other items, during a series of early morning raids.Earlier Sunday, the police said they had found a 9 millimeter semiautomatic pistol, five magazines, 105 bullets and two ballistic vests as well as fireworks, among other items, during a series of early morning raids.
Senior Superintendent Steve Li of the Hong Kong police said that officers had received information that the firearm and fireworks would be used on Sunday “to create chaos, including to shoot at police officers,” or to “hurt innocent bystanders” and pin the blame on officers.Senior Superintendent Steve Li of the Hong Kong police said that officers had received information that the firearm and fireworks would be used on Sunday “to create chaos, including to shoot at police officers,” or to “hurt innocent bystanders” and pin the blame on officers.
Amid Hong Kong’s unrest, city leaders continue to court controversy. A subsidiary of an engineering services company called Analogue Holdings Limited, whose chairman, Otto Poon, is the husband of Hong Kong’s embattled justice secretary, Teresa Cheng, was investigated by the city’s antitrust watchdog, Analogue Holdings said in a statement Thursday.Amid Hong Kong’s unrest, city leaders continue to court controversy. A subsidiary of an engineering services company called Analogue Holdings Limited, whose chairman, Otto Poon, is the husband of Hong Kong’s embattled justice secretary, Teresa Cheng, was investigated by the city’s antitrust watchdog, Analogue Holdings said in a statement Thursday.
In the wake of the now-withdrawn extradition bill, Ms. Cheng has become a deeply unpopular figure alongside Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam. Ms. Cheng and Mr. Poon had also been previously embroiled in a scandal involving illegal construction in their mansion — a hot-button local issue.In the wake of the now-withdrawn extradition bill, Ms. Cheng has become a deeply unpopular figure alongside Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam. Ms. Cheng and Mr. Poon had also been previously embroiled in a scandal involving illegal construction in their mansion — a hot-button local issue.
Tara Joseph and Robert Grieves, the president and the chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, or AmCham, were separately denied entry on Saturday to Macau, a semiautonomous gambling enclave in southern China that is an hour’s boat ride from Hong Kong. The two said they were planning to attend an annual ball put on by the Macau branch of the business organization.Tara Joseph and Robert Grieves, the president and the chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, or AmCham, were separately denied entry on Saturday to Macau, a semiautonomous gambling enclave in southern China that is an hour’s boat ride from Hong Kong. The two said they were planning to attend an annual ball put on by the Macau branch of the business organization.
“We are puzzled as to why this happened, given this was simply a social occasion to celebrate AmCham Macau’s annual gathering,” said Ms. Joseph, an American citizen and a former journalist. She added that neither she nor Mr. Grieves were given a reason for the refusal.“We are puzzled as to why this happened, given this was simply a social occasion to celebrate AmCham Macau’s annual gathering,” said Ms. Joseph, an American citizen and a former journalist. She added that neither she nor Mr. Grieves were given a reason for the refusal.
She said she was detained by immigration officials in Macau for nearly two hours, and both she and Mr. Grieves were made to sign statements that they “voluntarily agreed not to pursue entry” into Macau. They then returned to Hong Kong.She said she was detained by immigration officials in Macau for nearly two hours, and both she and Mr. Grieves were made to sign statements that they “voluntarily agreed not to pursue entry” into Macau. They then returned to Hong Kong.
“We hope that this is just an overreaction to current events and that international business can constructively forge ahead,” Ms. Joseph said. She added that the chamber has been “consistent in its support for the development of business in the Greater Bay Area,” using Beijing’s term of a new economic zone that links Hong Kong and Macau with mainland China.“We hope that this is just an overreaction to current events and that international business can constructively forge ahead,” Ms. Joseph said. She added that the chamber has been “consistent in its support for the development of business in the Greater Bay Area,” using Beijing’s term of a new economic zone that links Hong Kong and Macau with mainland China.
Macau officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Macau officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Beijing-backed authorities in Macau have regularly prevented pro-democracy activists and journalists from Hong Kong from entering the city, but it is rare that such actions target members of the business community.The Beijing-backed authorities in Macau have regularly prevented pro-democracy activists and journalists from Hong Kong from entering the city, but it is rare that such actions target members of the business community.
Beijing has vowed to retaliate against American interests after President Trump signed tough legislation last month that authorized sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights abuses in Hong Kong.Beijing has vowed to retaliate against American interests after President Trump signed tough legislation last month that authorized sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights abuses in Hong Kong.
This month, Macau, a former Portuguese colony, is expected to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its return to Chinese control.This month, Macau, a former Portuguese colony, is expected to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its return to Chinese control.
Yuli Riswati, an Indonesian photographer, writer and domestic worker in Hong Kong, was detained for nearly a month and deported earlier in December, according to a support group, apparently for overstaying her work visa.Yuli Riswati, an Indonesian photographer, writer and domestic worker in Hong Kong, was detained for nearly a month and deported earlier in December, according to a support group, apparently for overstaying her work visa.
She has reported on the Hong Kong protests for the city’s Indonesian community. At a rally on Saturday organized by supporters, she said over the phone that she and other detainees were subject to unfair treatment at the city’s immigration detention center where she was held.She has reported on the Hong Kong protests for the city’s Indonesian community. At a rally on Saturday organized by supporters, she said over the phone that she and other detainees were subject to unfair treatment at the city’s immigration detention center where she was held.
The sense of terror “that is infiltrating all kinds of institutions in Hong Kong, as obvious with this case, has reached a level where it can happen to anyone,” said Elaine Ho, 42, an artist who attended the rally. “To see that even it’s reaching people who are already marginalized in Hong Kong’s society is completely unjust,” she added.The sense of terror “that is infiltrating all kinds of institutions in Hong Kong, as obvious with this case, has reached a level where it can happen to anyone,” said Elaine Ho, 42, an artist who attended the rally. “To see that even it’s reaching people who are already marginalized in Hong Kong’s society is completely unjust,” she added.
Hong Kong is home to nearly 380,000 migrant domestic workers, mostly women from the Philippines and Indonesia, who often toil in poor conditions and play an outsize role in the city’s economy.Hong Kong is home to nearly 380,000 migrant domestic workers, mostly women from the Philippines and Indonesia, who often toil in poor conditions and play an outsize role in the city’s economy.