Page 11 - AT

A11
WORLD NEWS Monday 16 SepteMber 2019
Violence flares after Hong Kong protesters defy police ban

By EILEEN NG from the last several weeks end at the U.S. Consulate.
PHOEBE LAI of the protests. On Saturday, pro-democ-
Associated Press Protesters retreated but re- racy protesters and sup-
HONG KONG (AP) — Po- grouped in the nearby Wan porters of the central gov-
lice fired chemical-laced Chai neighborhood, setting ernment in Beijing clashed
blue water and tear gas at fires outside a subway sta- at a Hong Kong shopping
protesters who lobbed Mo- tion exit and on the streets. mall and several public
lotov cocktails outside the They fled again after riot places. Police arrested
Hong Kong government police advanced and the more than a dozen people
office complex Sunday, as cat-and-mouse battles and hospital authorities
violence flared anew after went on for a few hours be- said 25 were injured.
thousands of pro-democ- fore calm returned. The clashes amid the mid-
racy supporters marched Police fired tear gas again autumn festival holiday
through downtown in defi- later in the nearby North came after several nights
ance of a police ban. Point area after protest- of peaceful rallies that fea-
A mixed crowd of hard- ers obstructed traffic after tured protesters belting out
core protesters in black brawling there earlier with a new protest song in mass
and wearing masks, along pro-government support- An anti-government protester throws back a tear gas canister singing at shopping malls.
with families with children, ers. fired by the police during a demonstration near Central Govern- Thousands of people also
spilled into the roads of Hospital authorities said ment Complex in Hong Kong, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. carried lanterns with pro-
the Causeway Bay shop- eight people were injured Associated Press democracy messages in
ping belt and marched for throughout the day, includ- public areas and formed
over 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) ing three in serious condi- lonial ruler to ensure the to China in 1997. illuminated human chains
to the central business dis- tion. The protests were trig- city's autonomy is upheld Demonstrators held similar on two of the city's peaks
trict. Some waved U.S. and gered in June by an extra- under agreements made rallies Sept. 1 at the British on Friday night to mark the
British flags, while others dition bill that many saw when Britain ceded power Consulate and last week- major Chinese festival.q
carried posters reiterating as an example of China's
their calls for democratic increasing intrusion and at
reforms. chipping away at Hong
Police had turned down a Kong residents' freedoms
request by the Civil Human and rights, many of which
Rights Front to hold the are not accorded to peo-
march, but the demonstra- ple in mainland China.
tors were undeterred, as Hong Kong's government
they've been all summer. promised this month to
"I feel this is our duty. The withdraw the bill, which
government wants to block would have allowed some
us with the ban, but I want criminal suspects to be sent
to say that the people will to mainland China for trial,
not be afraid," said one but protesters have wid-
protester, Winnie Leung, 50. ened their demands to in-
The march disrupted traffic, clude direct elections for
and many shops, includ- the city's leaders and po-
ing the Sogo department lice accountability.
store in Causeway Bay, More than 1,300 people
one of Hong Kong's largest have been arrested amid
department stores, closed increasing clashes be-
their doors. tween protesters and po-
Protesters burned Chinese lice, who demonstrators
flags and tore down ban- have accused of abuses.
ners congratulating China's The unrest has battered
ruling Communist Party, Hong Kong's economy,
which will celebrate its 70th which was already reeling
year in power on Oct. 1. from the U.S.-China trade
In familiar scenes, some war. It is also seen as an
protesters smashed glass embarrassment to Beijing,
windows and surveillance which has accused foreign
cameras at a subway sta- powers of fomenting the
tion exit. unrest.
Hundreds of protesters later Earlier Sunday, hundreds
targeted the government of protesters waved Brit-
office complex, throwing ish flags, sang "God Save
bricks and gasoline bombs the Queen" and chanted
through police barriers. "UK save Hong Kong" out-
Police responded by firing side the British Consulate as
volleys of tear gas and us- they stepped up calls for in-
ing water cannon trucks ternational support for their
to spray chemical-laced campaign.
water as well as blue liquid With banners declaring
that helped them iden- "one country, two systems is
tify offenders, in a repeat dead," they repeated calls
of confrontational scenes for Hong Kong's former co-