Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Hong Kong on Tuesday to mark a year of sustained democracy rallies as fears of impending national security legislation rekindled unrest in the global financial center .
Crowds challenged government ban on more than eight people due to coronavirus, as well as heavy riot police presence on streets, officers repeatedly seen tracing those crossing the region .
Earlier on Tuesday, protesters gathered in several shopping centers to chant pro-democracy slogans, dispersing peacefully after an hour.
Some people display placards that read “We can’t breathe! Free HK” and “Young lives matter”, nods at American protests against police brutality caused by the death of black American George Floyd.
“I am afraid but I have to protest against national security laws. It is important to continue fighting for freedom,” said Tai, 25, who refused to give his full name.
Last year, June 9, it is estimated that more than a million protesters took to the streets against the proposed law authorizing extraditions to mainland China, where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party.
The government later withdrew the bill, but widespread concern persisted that Beijing was stifling freedoms in the former British colony, causing months of often violent unrest.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam warned on Tuesday that the city, which has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy since returning to Chinese power in 1997, cannot afford more “chaos”.
“We can all see the difficulties we have experienced over the past year and because of these serious situations we have more problems to resolve,” said Lam at a weekly press conference.
“We have to learn from mistakes, I hope that all lawmakers can learn from mistakes – that Hong Kong cannot bear such chaos.”
Nearly 9,000 people, ages 11 to 84, have been arrested during protests in the past year, police said on Monday. Over 600 have been charged with riots.
Activists, as well as many diplomats and business leaders fear that national security laws targeting subversion, secession, treason and foreign interference may further jeopardize the freedoms of Hong Kong, including its independent legal system . Laws could also see intelligence agencies on the continent set up.
“The repression is becoming more and more severe,” said Lee, 32.
More demonstrations are planned in the coming days and union leaders have announced their intention to hold a referendum on Sunday between their members on whether to go on strike across the city.
The authorities have insisted that the laws will focus on a small number of “troublemakers” who threaten national security and will not restrict freedoms or harm investors. Lam cautioned against plans to strike.
Prominent pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong said the world had witnessed “the deteriorating situation in Hong Kong, with Beijing tightening its grip on the city’s freedoms”.
“I have great confidence in the Hong Kong people that we will have the means to resist and challenge,” Wong wrote on Twitter. “Besides, I hope the world can support Hong Kong and protect the city from falling.”
Washington said it would remove Hong Kong’s special treatment from US law because it believed the city was no longer self-sufficient. The European Union, Britain and others have expressed concerns about the proposed legislation, while Beijing has responded to foreign interference in its affairs.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
