Tens of thousands of people surrounded Hong Kong‘s government complex in opposition to a proposed extradition law that would allow criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial.
Hong Kong police fired rubber-coated bullets, water cannon, and canisters of tear gas at goggle-wearing demonstrators, who threw plastic bottles and set up metal barricades with umbrellas to protect from pepper spray.
The police commissioner called it a “riot situation”.
Here are the latest updates:
Hong Kong chief slams ‘blatant, organised riot’
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam pointed the finger at protesters for the politically motivated “riot” which was marked by violence and police force.
Lam said that some young people in the crowd had expressed their views peacefully, but she condemned protesters who resorted to “dangerous and life-threatening acts”.
Lam’s added that the peaceful protests that flowed through the city’s streets on Sunday had devolved into a “blatant, organised riot.”
Rights group denounces ‘excessive’ police force
Amnesty International has condemned what it called excessive force by Hong Kong police against the largely peaceful protesters, saying it violates international law and is likely to lead to worsening violence.
Man-Kei Tam, Amnesty’s Hong Kong director, said tear gas and rubber bullets should never be used to disperse peaceful protesters because they are “notoriously inaccurate and indiscriminate, and can result in serious injury and even death”.
The rights group warned that the police action was “fuelling tensions and is likely to contribute to worsening violence, rather than end it”.
At least 72 people were taken to hospitals after the massive protests. According to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, 10 remained in treatment, 19 were in stable condition, and 41 have been released.
Trump hopes protesters ‘work it out’ with China
US President Donald Trump has said he understands Hong Kong protesters but hopes they can “work it out” with Beijing.
“I hope they’re going to be able to work it out with China,” Trump told reporters at the White House.”I understand the reason for the demonstration,” he said. “I hope it all works out for China and for Hong Kong.”
Trump’s cautious response to what he said were “massive” demonstrations came as Washington and Beijing try to pick up the pieces of their collapsed talks on resolving a trade war.
“We’re doing very well with respect to China,” Trump said, referring to huge trade tariffs imposed on Chinese imports. “I have a feeling that we’re going to make a deal with China,” he said.
Protesters vow to keep fighting
Following a day of sit-ins, tear gas and clashes with police, Hong Kong students and civil rights activists vowed to keep protesting against the proposed extradition bill.
“We’ll stay until the government drops this law and [Chinese President] Xi Jinping gives up on trying to turn Hong Kong into just another city in China like Beijing and Shanghai,” college student Louis Wong Wong said.
Traffic in one of the busiest parts of the city remained blocked.
“We want the government to just set the legislation aside and not bring it back,” said a protester who gave only his first name, Marco, because he feared possible repercussions from authorities.
Another protester, who gave her name only as King, said: “We have to stand up for our rights or they will be taken away”.
Germany reviews its Hong Kong extradition accord
A foreign ministry spokeswoman has said Germany is “examining whether the existing bilateral extradition agreement between Germany and Hong Kong could continue to be implemented in its current form if the planned extradition bill is approved”.
Maria Adebahr also said that Berlin and its European Union partners have expressed their concern to Hong Kong authorities.
A protester throws a tear gas canister during a demonstration [Tyrone Siu/Reuters]
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said it was a good sign that the majority of protesters have been peaceful “and we appeal to all concerned to ensure that things remain just as peaceful in Hong Kong”.
Legal group urges Hong Kong to withdraw bill
The Hong Kong Bar Association urged the government to “withdraw the bill for a full and proper consultation”.
In a letter addressed to Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, Chairman Philip Dykes said the group wants to know whether the government took into account the human rights situation in mainland China before seeking assurances from Beijing on the matter.
UK PM May: We are concerned
British Prime Minister Theresa May said extradition rules in Hong Kong had to respect the rights and freedoms set out in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
“We are concerned about potential effects of these proposals particularly obviously given the large number of British citizens there are in Hong Kong,” May told parliament.
“But it is vital that those extradition arrangements in Hong Kong are in line with the rights and freedoms that were set down in the Sino-British joint declaration.”
UK calls on Hong Kong to pause extradition bill
Britain urged the Hong Kong government to “pause and reflect” on the extradition bill that has sparked widespread protests and said the former British colony must protect its rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy.
“I urge the Hong Kong government to listen to the concerns of its people and its friends in the international community and to pause and reflect on these controversial measures,” Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said.
“It is essential that the authorities engage in meaningful dialogue and take steps to preserve Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy, which underpin its international reputation.”
Protesters hold umbrellas to help protect from pepper spray during clashes with police [Isaac Lawrence/ AFP]
Police defend ‘non-lethal’ use of force
At a brief news conference held as the chaos swirled just outside, Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung called the demonstration a riot and condemned the “irresponsible behaviour” of protesters.
That could spell long jail terms for anyone arrested, adding to concerns that Hong Kong’s government is using public disturbance laws to intimidate political protesters.
Police spokesman Gong Weng Chun defended the decision to use tear gas and other non-lethal weapons to quell the demonstration.
A police officer aims a tear gas gun at protesters during a demonstration against a proposed extradition bill in Hong Kong [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters]
Protesters tear gassed
Hong Kong police used tear gas, pepper spray and high-pressure water hoses against protesters who laid siege to government buildings to oppose the extradition bill.
Thousands of protesters blocked entry to Hong Kong’s government headquarters, delaying a legislative session on proposed changes to the law.
Demonstrators moved metal crowd control barriers, ignoring police warnings to stop. When the crowd gained access to the grounds of the legislature building, police fired more tear gas to push them back.
After most of the crowd was dispersed, some 100 demonstrators could be seen holding their ground in one section of the complex.
Protesters run away from the tear gas fired by riot police during a rally outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong [AP]
HK administration: ‘Leave the area’
In an earlier statement to reporters, Chief Secretary for Administration Mathew Cheung asked demonstrators to leave the area.
“The Hong Kong government calls on people who are blocking roads to … go back to the pavement as soon as possible,” he said.
Cheung gave no indication of when the delayed legislative debate would begin.
China reiterates support for Hong Kong government
China’s central government firmly supports the Hong Kong government in passing an extradition law, the foreign ministry reiterated.
Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a news briefing in Beijing any actions that harm Hong Kong are opposed by mainstream Hong Kong public opinion. He also urged the United States to speak and act with caution regarding Hong Kong.
Tens of thousands of Hong Kong demonstrators surrounded the Chinese-ruled city’s legislature, forcing it to postpone a second round of debate on the bill.
Hong Kong Consulate in Taiwan
Dozens of people protested outside the Hong Kong Consulate in Taiwan to denounce proposed amendments to Hong Kong’s extradition laws.
Hong Kong students sitting outside the consulate in Taipei held posters reading “No extradition to China” and chanting: “Hong Kong government, Shame on you.”
Ho Wing Tung, a Hong Kong student in Taiwan, said the rule of law won’t exist if the legislation passes and she is afraid the “one country, two systems” principle would become a joke.
Hong Kong delays bill debate as crowds mass
Thousands of protesters blocked entry to Hong Kong’s government headquarters, delaying a legislative session on the proposed law change.
The overwhelmingly young crowd overflowed onto a major downtown road, overturning barriers and tussling with police outside the building that houses the chambers where the legislature was to discuss the bill.
A curt government statement said the session scheduled to begin at 11am would be “changed to a later time.” An earlier statement said staff members were advised not to go to work and those already on the premises were told to “stay at their working place until further notice.”
Wearing goggles and hard-hats, and protecting themselves with umbrellas, protesters in Hong Kong tried to storm the Legco government complex [Euan McKirdy/Al Jazeera]
Tuesday, June 11
Open debate on controversial bill
Protesters in Hong Kong are gathering outside the semiautonomous Chinese territory’s legislature amid plans for further demonstrations and strike actions on Wednesday morning.
The administration of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam plans to open debate on the legal amendments on Wednesday.
Largest demonstration in decades
The head of Hong Kong’s legislature has announced the schedule for debate on contentious changes to the territory’s extradition laws, setting a vote by June 20.
Legislature President Andrew Leung said Tuesday that he had accepted 153 out of 238 proposed amendments to the bills. He said there would be 66 hours for debate.
Hundreds of thousands of people protested against the legislation on Sunday in the largest demonstration in Hong Kong in more than a decade.
The turnout reflected growing apprehension about relations with the Communist Party-ruled mainland.
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