HONG KONG, REUTERS, NOV. 6, 2016 – Police fired pepper spray in running battles with thousands of demonstrators on the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday as they tried to encircle China’s representative office in protest against Beijing’s attempts to stop independence activism.
Demonstrators protest against what they call is Beijing’s interference in local politics and the rule of law, a day before China’s parliament is expected to announce their interpretation of the Basic Law in light of two pro-independence lawmakers’ oath-taking controversy in Hong Kong, China November 6, 2016.
Streets filled with mostly young people, many dressed in black, brought to mind weeks of pro-democracy marches in 2014.
This time they were protesting before a ruling due on Monday that is expected to bar two lawmakers from taking office in Hong Kong’s legislature.
The situation is seen by many of the territory’s legal and political elite as one of the biggest tests of Hong Kong’s independent rule of law that the global financial hub has faced since its handover to China nearly two decades ago.
Critics say the ruling from a top committee of China’s parliament essentially circumvents local courts.
The two lawmakers, Yau Wai-ching and Baggio Leung, had pledged allegiance to the “Hong Kong nation” and displayed a “Hong Kong is not China” banner during a swearing-in ceremony for the city’s legislative council in October. Their oaths were not accepted and their right to retake them is being challenged in the local courts by the autonomous Hong Kong government.
Demonstrators carry a former colonial Hong Kong flag during a protest against what they call is Beijing’s interference in local politics and the rule of law, a day before China’s parliament is expected to announce their interpretation of the Basic Law in light of two pro-independence lawmakers’ oath-taking controversy in Hong Kong, China November 6, 2016.
Close to a thousand police officers, some with riot shields and batons, and some behind temporary metal barricades were deployed to prevent protesters surging toward the central government’s Liaison Office, viewed by many as a symbol of Beijing’s increasing influence on the free-wheeling city.
Chanting “Hong Kong Independence” among other slogans, the protesters, some with medical masks and cling film to shield their eyes, tried repeatedly to charge through police lines but were forced back. Several were arrested.
Protesters are pepper sprayed by police during a protest against what they call Beijing’s interference in local politics and the rule of law, a day before China’s parliament is expected to announce their interpretation of the Basic Law in light of two pro-independence lawmakers’ oath-taking controversy in Hong Kong, China, November 6, 2016.
Also reminiscent of the 79-day democracy protests two years ago, many opened umbrellas to protect themselves from pepper spray and blocked a major road running past the China Liaison office, erecting makeshift barricades out of bamboo, wood and rubbish bins to hamper traffic.
Demonstrators clash with police during a protest against what they call Beijing’s interference in local politics and the rule of law, a day before China’s parliament is expected to announce their interpretation of the Basic Law in light of two pro-independence lawmakers’ oath-taking controversy in Hong Kong, China November 6, 2016.
“We can’t just wait to die,” said 60-year-old protester Alexandra Wong who sat in the middle of the road with a yellow umbrella. “We must come out and resist, to wake up more people to the risks of China destroying our way of life.”
The protesters were eventually dispersed by police after a nearly six-hour standoff.
Demonstrators protest against what they call Beijing’s interference in local politics and the rule of law, a day before China’s parliament is expected to announce their interpretation of the Basic Law in light of two pro-independence lawmakers’ oath-taking controversy in Hong Kong, China November 6, 2016.
