Stoic priest faces down a wall of riot police in Hong Kong as officers fire tear gas at pro-democracy protesters on a second consecutive night of violent clashes
- Thousands marched today in town of Tseung Kwan O holding bright banners and calling for strike tomorrow
- Second march will try to end in park near department that represents China’s government in Hong Kong
- More than 20 people were arrested after protests last night where police fired tear gas rounds at the crowds
- China’s news agency Xinhua wrote today the ‘government will not sit idly by and let this situation continue’
A stoic priest stared down a row of riot police as thousands of protesters took to Hong Kong’s streets again today for two new demonstrations after officers fired tear gas at the crowds last night.
Pictures from the demonstrations in Kennedy Town show the lone man dressed in white holding a carrier bag as he walks and then stops to look at the dozens of police officers behind barriers.
The Chinese-controlled city has been rocked by months of protests against a proposed bill to allow people to be extradited to stand trial in mainland China.
Adding to the tensions, a general strike aimed at bringing the city to a halt is planned for tomorrow and hundreds of the people marching today were heard calling for this to happen.
Last night police fired multiple tear gas rounds in confrontations with black-clad activists, some carrying umbrellas, in the city’s Kowloon area.
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A lone priest stood in front of a row of riot police during the protests in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, today, as thousands more people took to the streets in another night of demonstrations
The priest calmly walked towards the row of police during the nighttime protests which have now spanned several weeks
Thousands of people took to the streets in the Tseung Kwan O district of Hong Kong, pictured, today holding umbrellas to protest against a proposed bill to allow people to be extradited to stand trial in mainland China
People held colourful banners and leaflets as they joined the peaceful rally today, pictured, in the Tseung Kwan O district
Last night police fired tear gas, pictured outside of a police station in the Wong Tai Sin district of Hong Kong, at protesters
Police said in a statement early on Sunday that they had arrested more than 20 people for offences overnight including unlawful assembly and assault.
Today thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully in the town of Tseung Kwan O in the New Territories brandishing colourful banners and leaflets.
Dressed in black the protesters cheered as they called for a mass strike across Hong Kong on Monday. Since Occupy Central protests in 2014, umbrellas have been a prime symbol of the city’s pro-democracy movements
They’re trying to tell the government to withdraw the extradition bill and to police to stop the investigations and the violence, said Gabriel Lee, a 21-year-old technology student.
Lee said what made him most angry was that the government was not responding to any of the protesters’ demands or examining the police violence.
Protesters on Saturday set fires in the streets, outside a police station and in rubbish bins, and blocked the entrance to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, cutting a major artery linking Hong Kong island and the Kowloon peninsula.
Officials said they arrested more than 20 people for offences overnight including unlawful assembly and assault. Pictured is one protester in the midst of tear gas during a confrontation with police last night
Protesters wore black and held umbrellas during the overnight clashes. Pictured are demonstrators in the Tsim Sha Tsui district. They have also called for a mass strike across Hong Kong tomorrow
The protests have become the most serious political crisis in Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese rule 22 years and the biggest popular challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he took office in 2012. Pictured are police last night
Demonstrators threw cardboard onto a fire during protests in Hong Kong last night. They also blocked the entrance to the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, cutting a major artery linking Hong Kong island and the Kowloon peninsula
Smoke filled the streets during the protests, which have been going on for months, last night. Weeks of demonstrations are taking a growing toll on the city’s economy, as local shoppers and tourists are avoiding some shopping areas
Major shops in the popular tourist and commercial area Nathan Road, normally packed on a Saturday, were shuttered including 7-11 convenience stores, jewellery chain Chow Tai Fook and watch brands Rolex and Tudor.
What started as an angry response to the now suspended extradition bill, has expanded to demands for greater democracy and the resignation of leader Carrie Lam.
The protests have become the most serious political crisis in Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese rule 22 years ago after being governed by Britain.
Thousands of civil servants joined in the anti-government protests on Friday for the first time since they started in June, defying a warning from authorities to remain politically neutral.
Riot police are pictured firing tear gas in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong last night on another night of demonstrations
Protesters attended a rally in the western district of Hong Kong today, pictured, and displayed a large banner on the floor
On Sunday anti-extradition bill protesters, pictured, gathered during the rally in Tseung Kwan O district, Hong Kong
Dressed in black, with some wearing masks and carrying umbrellas, the protesters cheered during a rally in the Tseung Kwan O district as they called for a mass strike across Hong Kong on Monday
The protests also mark the biggest popular challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he took office in 2012.
China’s official news agency Xinhua wrote on Sunday that the ‘central government will not sit idly by and let this situation continue. We firmly believe that Hong Kong will be able to overcome the difficulties and challenges ahead. ‘
Hong Kong has been allowed to retain extensive freedoms, such as an independent judiciary but many residents see the extradition bill as the latest step in a relentless march toward mainland control.
Months of demonstrations are taking a growing toll on the city’s economy, as local shoppers and tourists avoid parts of one of the world’s most famous shopping destinations.
Matthew Wang, a 22-year-old marketing executive for a multinational corporation, said that the government was ‘encouraging people to become more radical to affect decision making because they are not addressing any of the demands.’
A second march today will try to end in a park near the Liaison Office, the department that represents China’s central government in Hong Kong.
Other people held placards in front of their faces as they marched in the Tseung Kwan O district. Gabriel Lee marched today and said what made him most angry was that the government was not responding to any of the protesters’ demands
Protesters were seen pushing steel barricades which they took out from the roadside to block the street outside the Po Lam MTR station during the anti-extradition bill protest today
A second march today is planned to end near the Liaison Office, the department that represents China’s central government in Hong Kong. Pictured are protesters in front on a huge banner at the rally in Tseung Kwan O district
China’s official news agency Xinhua wrote today that the ‘central government will not sit idly by and let this situation continue.’ Pictured is a protester wearing an ‘I love HK’ cap at a rally in Hong Kong today
Two weeks ago, the office was pelted with eggs and paint in a move that infuriated Beijing and sparked the rapidly escalating warnings from the mainland.
The last fortnight has seen a surge in violence on both sides with police repeatedly firing rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse increasingly hostile projectile-throwing crowds.
A group of government supporters also attacked demonstrators, putting 45 people in hospital, with many accusing the police of being too slow to respond.
In Tsim Sha Tsui, masked demonstrators smashed the windows of cars in a police parking lot and used a large slingshot to launch bricks at the building.
Others put up barricades on busy shopping thoroughfares and temporarily blockaded a cross-harbour tunnel.
A protester dressed in black throws bricks at the Tseung Kwan O police station in Hong Kong after the rally earlier today
Police directed people away from the China Liaison Office, the department that represents China’s central government in Hong Kong, during the protesting in the Western district today
Dozens of bricks were left on the ground after protesters threw them at the Tseung Kwan O police station this afternoon
Police blocked a street in the Western district this evening after another day of thousands of people protesting in Hong Kong
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