Hong Kong News

Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Police to put 2,000 officers on Hong Kong streets as protest anniversary looms

Police to put 2,000 officers on Hong Kong streets as protest anniversary looms

Online appeals call for people to gather in Causeway Bay and Mong Kok on Saturday, with weekend marking second anniversary of clash between police and protesters at Legislative Council complex.

Hong Kong police are planning to deploy more than 2,000 officers around the city, with most in the two busiest shopping districts, after activists appealed online for people to join “gatherings” to commemorate the second anniversary of the 2019 anti-government protests, force insiders said.

One source said about 1,000 officers would be placed on Hong Kong Island as authorities brace for potential trouble around Causeway Bay, with online posts calling on people to take to the streets at 7pm on Saturday.

“When we are on the same street, we all naturally know what to do,” one Instagram post said. Along with the post was a picture of crowds of protesters jamming the streets, with some holding a banner that read, “Reclaim Hong Kong”.

Another Instagram post featured a drawing of a group of black-clad protesters, with some wearing Guy Fawkes masks, or holding a shield, black flag, or a bow and arrow. On the picture was the message: “June 12, 7pm, Causeway Bay. Hong Kong people. Gather again. Be water.”

Police fire tear gas at protesters in Admiralty.


On the Kowloon side, a group called Student Politicism posted a message on Telegram asking people to gather in Mong Kok at 7pm. It also asked participants to “be well equipped to deal with any violence” and “plan the retreat routes ahead”.

Even though police were still finalising the plans, the source said up to 1,000 officers would be expected to be deployed for any potential chaos in Mong Kok and other districts in the Kowloon West region on Saturday.

He also said officers would carry out high-profile patrols to stop people from gathering and enforce social-distancing
rules.

“Anti-riot equipment such as shields, gas masks and shotguns used to fire tear gas rounds are ready to be delivered to frontline officers in case of any chaos,” he said.

Rallies will be held by Hongkongers overseas and their supporters in at least 48 cities to show their support for protesters at home, according to HKBeWater2021, an online campaign initiated by fugitive activist Finn Lau.

“We call upon Hongkongers around the world to participate in the campaign so as to sustain the spirit of Hong Kong with local engagement,” Lau wrote in a Facebook post. “We also encourage those in Hong Kong to be attentive to any local events … We must strive to support each other in our fight for freedom and democracy.”

The huge demonstration on June 12 two years ago – the date the now-shelved fugitive bill was scheduled for the second reading at the Legislative Council – saw violent clashes between protesters and police outside the Legco complex in Admiralty.

Extradition bill protesters occupy Harcourt Road and gather outside the Legislative Council Complex in Tamar on June 12, 2019.


Some rioters stormed the complex, others hurled bricks and iron rods at police, who in response initially defended themselves with batons and pepper spray but eventually resorted to firing tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. The turmoil continued until midnight.

Protesters and the opposition camp accused officers of using excessive force, and said the protests would have been peaceful but for the actions of police.

On June 12 last year, crowds gathered in Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, Yuen Long, and Kwun Tong. Pepper spray was reportedly used to disperse protesters in some areas. At one point, police deployed armoured vehicles and water cannon around Causeway Bay. At least 43 people were arrested.

Hong Kong has been relatively peaceful and social order has gradually been restored after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law last June. Critics say the law is to crackdown on dissidents, and many pro-democracy activists have since been jailed or have fled the city.

Signs of unrest re-emerged last week as people defied a police ban on the June 4 vigil in Causeway Bay and gathered around Victoria Park to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. In Mong Kok, some 200 people flashed their mobile devices or held mini torches or candles during a gathering in Mong Kok.

Police reportedly mobilised 7,000 officers that day, and at least six people were arrested.

Chiu Yan-loy, a member of the June 4 vigil organisers and also a district councillor of the opposition Labour Party, said they did not have any plan for Saturday.

“It is not to say we should forget the 2019 movement. There can be different ways to commemorate it,” Chiu said.

The Confederation of Trade Unions plans to have street booths in Tsuen Wan on Sunday as part of a series to mark the second anniversary of the anti-government protests.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Hong Kong News
0:00
0:00
Close
It's always the people with the dirty hands pointing their fingers
Paper straws found to contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals - study
FTX's Bankman-Fried headed for jail after judge revokes bail
Blackrock gets half a trillion dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine
Steve Jobs' Son Launches Venture Capital Firm With $200 Million For Cancer Treatments
Google reshuffles Assistant unit, lays off some staffers, to 'supercharge' products with A.I.
End of Viagra? FDA approved a gel against erectile dysfunction
UK sanctions Russians judges over dual British national Kara-Murza's trial
US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns
America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Nearly Seven Years Begins Operations
Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
Political leader from South Africa, Julius Malema, led violent racist chants at a massive rally on Saturday
Today Hunter Biden’s best friend and business associate, Devon Archer, testified that Joe Biden met in Georgetown with Russian Moscow Mayor's Wife Yelena Baturina who later paid Hunter Biden $3.5 million in so called “consulting fees”
'I am not your servant': IndiGo crew member, passenger get into row over airline meal
Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate
Spanish Citizenship Granted to Iranian chess player who removed hijab
US Senate Republican Mitch McConnell freezes up, leaves press conference
Speaker McCarthy says the United States House of Representatives is getting ready to impeach Joe Biden.
San Francisco car crash
This camera man is a genius
3D ad in front of Burj Khalifa
Next level gaming
BMW driver…
Google testing journalism AI. We are doing it already 2 years, and without Google biased propoganda and manipulated censorship
Unlike illegal imigrants coming by boats - US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
Musk announces Twitter name and logo change to X.com
The politician and the journalist lost control and started fighting on live broadcast.
The future of sports
Unveiling the Black Hole: The Mysterious Fate of EU's Aid to Ukraine
Farewell to a Music Titan: Tony Bennett, Renowned Jazz and Pop Vocalist, Passes Away at 96
Alarming Behavior Among Florida's Sharks Raises Concerns Over Possible Cocaine Exposure
Transgender Exclusion in Miss Italy Stirs Controversy Amidst Changing Global Beauty Pageant Landscape
Joe Biden admitted, in his own words, that he delivered what he promised in exchange for the $10 million bribe he received from the Ukraine Oil Company.
TikTok Takes On Spotify And Apple, Launches Own Music Service
Global Trend: Using Anti-Fake News Laws as Censorship Tools - A Deep Dive into Tunisia's Scenario
Arresting Putin During South African Visit Would Equate to War Declaration, Asserts President Ramaphosa
Hacktivist Collective Anonymous Launches 'Project Disclosure' to Unearth Information on UFOs and ETIs
Typo sends millions of US military emails to Russian ally Mali
Server Arrested For Theft After Refusing To Pay A Table's $100 Restaurant Bill When They Dined & Dashed
The Changing Face of Europe: How Mass Migration is Reshaping the Political Landscape
China Urges EU to Clarify Strategic Partnership Amid Trade Tensions
The Last Pour: Anchor Brewing, America's Pioneer Craft Brewer, Closes After 127 Years
Democracy not: EU's Digital Commissioner Considers Shutting Down Social Media Platforms Amid Social Unrest
Sarah Silverman and Renowned Authors Lodge Copyright Infringement Case Against OpenAI and Meta
Why Do Tech Executives Support Kennedy Jr.?
The New York Times Announces Closure of its Sports Section in Favor of The Athletic
BBC Anchor Huw Edwards Hospitalized Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations, Family Confirms
Florida Attorney General requests Meta CEO's testimony on company's platforms' alleged facilitation of illicit activities
The Distorted Mirror of actual approval ratings: Examining the True Threat to Democracy Beyond the Persona of Putin
40,000 child slaves in Congo are forced to work in cobalt mines so we can drive electric cars.
×