Pro-democracy protesters have attempted to storm the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong as the city prepares for major protests across the city.
Hundreds and perhaps thousands of anti-government demonstrators surrounded the legislature in the semi-autonomous city, while a handful of angry protesters repeatedly rammed a metal trolley and poles at the glass walls at the entrance on and off for several hours.
Protesters also took over key roads amid rising tensions before what is expected to be a huge pro-democracy rally on the anniversary of the city’s handover to China.
The former British colony has been shaken by historic demonstrations in the past month in which protesters have demanded the withdrawal of a bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland.
Dozens of riot police were stationed inside the legislative building in full protective gear watching on as the glass cracked, but did not shatter. They occasionally sprayed pepper spray through the cracks to deter the protesters.
At one point, around half a dozen pro-democracy and independent lawmakers came between the demonstrators and police calling for calm.
They pushed against the trolley, acting as human shields between it and the building where they work. They were roughly handled by dozens of young protesters, some of whom punched and pulled their arms. They were shouted down and protesters continued pounding the glass.
“They simply wouldn’t listen to me,” said lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting. “The movement at large is peaceful, but some young people are overwhelmed by a strong sense of helplessness and they’re emotionally charged.”
The police called on organisers of a march to consider rescheduling or shortening it, but it left just before 3pm when tens of thousands began snaking their way through the city.
Organisers the Civil Human Rights Front, did change the end point of the march. Marchers who carry on beyond the approved march route could potentially be charged with illegal assembly under Hong Kong law.
Police issued a statement earlier saying they “absolutely respect people’s freedom of assembly, procession and expression of opinion in a peaceful and orderly manner”, but that there is a “a serious safety threat in Admiralty and Wan Chai”, and advised the public to “carefully consider” whether they should join the public procession.
It is unclear whether the numbers will match the organiser-estimated 2 million that came out in a recent rally to call for the shelving of the controversial extradition bill.
Police were relatively restrained despite the damage to the legislature, having come under fire for excessive force against protesters during a smaller protest on 12 June.
China re-iterated its stance on Monday against what it called “foreign interference” in Hong Kong.
Speaking in Beijing, ChinesefForeign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that Britain’s rights and obligations under the joint declaration handed the city back to China in 1997 had ended.
“Britain has no so-called responsibility for Hong Kong. Hong Kong matters are purely an internal affair for China. No foreign country has a right to interfere,” Geng told a daily news briefing.
“Recently Britain has continuously gesticulated about Hong Kong, flagrantly interfering. We are extremely dissatisfied with this and resolutely opposed,” he added.
Earlier in the day Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, attempted to calm the mood, as an official ceremony took place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to mark the 22nd anniversary of the return of sovereignty from Britain to China.
In her speech Lam referred to the protests, saying they had made her realise “the need to grasp public sentiments accurately”. She also said: “I am also fully aware that while we have good intentions, we still need to be open and accommodating.”
The ceremony was held inside, ostensibly due to rain but perhaps to avoid protests.
The ongoing rallies are the latest manifestation of growing fears that China is stamping down on the city’s freedoms and culture with the help of the finance hub’s pro-Beijing leaders.
Although Hong Kong was returned from British to Chinese rule on 1 July, 1997, it is still administered separately under an arrangement known as “one country, two systems”.
The city enjoys rights and liberties unseen on the autocratic mainland, but many residents fear Beijing is already reneging on that deal.
If huge crowds gather on Monday evening, as expected, this will be Hong Kong’s fourth mass protest in a month against the controversial extradition law.
While the spark for the current wave of protests was an attempt by Lam to pass the Beijing-backed extradition law, the demonstrations have morphed into a wider movement against Lam’s administration and Beijing.
