Riot police have taken a stand on rising tensions over perceived threats to the city’s freedoms
Hong Kong:
Hong Kong deployed riot police around the Legislative Council on Wednesday as activists called for protests against a bill criminalizing the violation of the Chinese anthem amid soaring tensions over the perceived threats to the city’s freedoms.
Protests have returned to the streets of China-ruled Hong Kong after Beijing last week proposed national security laws that have sparked global fears that the freedoms that help it flourish as an interface between China and the West are eroded.
Hundreds of riot police took up positions and authorities erected a two-meter (6-foot) wall of plastic barriers filled with water around the Legislative Council, extending through a park to the port of Victoria.
In other parts of the city, protesters used garbage cans and debris to block roads, while activists launched online calls for protests at various locations later in the day.
“Although you are afraid in your heart, you must express yourself,” said Chang, 29, an employee and protester dressed in black with a respirator and glasses in her backpack.
Police said they had arrested at least 16 people, ages 14 to 40, involved in crimes including the possession of offensive weapons, possession of tools for illegal purposes and dangerous driving.
Protesters in a downtown mall chanted “Free Hong Kong! Revolution of our time” and “Hong Kong’s independence is the only way out”, but dispersed when the lookouts shouted a warning from ” go shopping!” at the sight of police vans outside.
A protester was seen with a sign saying “one country, two systems is a lie”, referring to the political system put in place when Great Britain transferred the city in 1997 to China, which is said to guarantee freedoms from Hong Kong until at least 2047.
“I’m afraid … if you don’t go out today, you can never get out. It’s a law that affects us directly,” said Ryan Tsang, hotel manager.
Last week, Beijing unveiled plans for national security legislation for Hong Kong to combat secession, subversion and terrorist activity.
He could see Chinese intelligence agencies setting up bases in the semi-autonomous city.
The move sparked the first major street unrest in Hong Kong in months on Sunday, with police firing tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters, recalling memories of violent anti-government protests that paralyzed parts of the city. Last year.
Chinese authorities and the Beijing-backed Hong Kong government say there is no threat to the city’s high degree of autonomy and that laws will be tightly targeted.
“It is for the long term stability of Hong Kong and China, it will not affect freedom of assembly and expression and it will not affect the city’s status as a financial center,” said Hong Kong Secretary General Matthew Cheung told reporters. “It would provide a stable environment for businesses.”
Hong Kong’s most prominent tycoon Li Ka-shing said in a statement that security laws were the law of every nation, but Hong Kong had the “critical mission” to maintain confidence nationally and global in “one country, two systems”.
The Hong Kong media reported that Beijing had broadened the scope of the security bill to include organizations as well as individuals.
The law is being revised to cover not only behavior or acts that endanger national security, but also activities, reported local broadcaster RTHK and the South China Morning Post.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States will announce a firm response to Hong Kong’s security bill this week.
The US-China Business Council (USCBC) said it urged “all leaders to take the necessary steps to defuse tensions, promote economic recovery and the rule of law and uphold the principle of” one country, two systems “”.
Asian stocks have slipped on rising tensions between the United States and China. Hong Kong stocks led the declines with the Hang Seng down 0.46%, although it kept a little distance from the two-month low touched on Monday.
Protesters and pro-democracy politicians say Hong Kong’s national anthem bill, which aims to regulate the use and play of the Chinese national anthem, is another sign of what they see as an accelerated interference from Beijing.
The bill provides for penalties of up to three years in prison and / or fines of up to HK $ 50,000 ($ 6,450) for those who insult the anthem. He also orders that primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong learn to sing the “Volunteer March”, as well as its history and etiquette.
“As long as citizens do not abide by the law on the national anthem, there is no need to worry, I hope people can discuss the bill in a rational way,” said Cheung.
The anthem bill is scheduled for second reading on Wednesday and is expected to come into force next month.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
