HONG KONG - Thousands of Hong Kong protesters rallied Sunday, defying a police ban on marches in the Chinese-controlled territory and continuing a restive weekend of demonstrations that saw police fire tear gas overnight.
Anti-government protests took place in different locations across the Asian financial hub, including one at the city’s international airport for a third day.
Thousands take part in a second day of sit-in protest at the airport in Hong Kong, Aug. 10, 2019. A third day of protests was planned for Sunday.
Increasingly violent demonstrations have plunged Hong Kong into its most serious political crisis for decades, posing a serious challenge to the central government in Beijing, which has taken an increasingly tough line.
By Sunday afternoon, more than 1,000 black-clad protesters peacefully swarmed the airport arrivals hall, chanting “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our time.”
In the city’s Victoria Park, thousands of people including elderly and families with children braved sweltering heat to demand authorities listen to the public’s demands, particularly an independent inquiry into the government’s handling of the crisis and what they say is police brutality.
A protester holds a poster depicting protesters, medical worker and people help an injured protester bearing the words "Together" as people gather at Victoria Park to take part in the anti-extradition bill protest in Hong Kong, Aug. 11, 2019.
600 arrests in 10 weeks
Police said Sunday they had arrested 16 people during the protests Saturday for charges including unlawful assembly and possession of an offensive weapon. Authorities have arrested more than 600 people since the rallies began in June.
Jason Liu, a 29-year-old protester who works as an arborist making sure the city’s trees are healthy, said the police made him the most angry as they acted like enemies rather than protecting the people.
“But our main target is obviously the government. They didn’t respond to any of our requests,” he said.
The former British colony of Hong Kong is roiling from months of protests that began against a proposed bill to allow people to be extradited to stand trial in mainland China and have developed into calls for greater democracy.
In the working class district of Sham Shui Po, more than 1,000 people, including middle aged and elderly marched to protest against the government. Many shops in the area were shuttered.
“We have lived in Hong Kong all our lives and this is the hardest time because the government is not listening to the citizens,” said a 63-year-old man surnamed Leung, who was accompanied by his 93-year-old father in a wheelchair.
There was no police presence at any of the demonstration points in the afternoon and the atmosphere remained jovial and calm, with people even bringing their dogs.
Authorities have not given permission for Sunday’s two protests planned in Sham Shui Po or North Point, but the rally at Victoria Park was permitted.
China leans on corporations
China has said the central government would not sit idly by and let the situation continue. Hong Kong’s government has also said the violence and illegal protests were pushing the city to an extremely dangerous edge.
China has also targeted the city’s corporate giants, demanding that the city’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways suspend staff involved in the demonstrations.
The airline told staff Saturday it would bar any “overly radical” employees from crewing flights to the mainland and said it had removed a pilot who was arrested at protests last week from duty.
China has shown strong support for the city’s police force with state news agency Xinhua Sunday stating that 245 representatives from Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations met Saturday in the city’s North Point area to show their support for police.
'Many people on our side'
Protesters have increasingly adopted flash tactics, playing a cat and mouse game with police to evade capture.
Young people have been at the forefront of recent protests, worried about the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, while also concerned with issues such as wealth disparities in the city. But elderly people have also been appearing.
Several leisure and public facilities have planned to close Sunday afternoon when the protests are expected.
“I don’t care if it is legal or illegal,” said 18 year old university student Polly.” We have so many people on our side.”