Hong Kong protesters plan major New Year’s Day rally after three days of Christmas chaos

Publisher: The Insight Partners

Hong Kong’s anti-government protesters on Thursday ended a third straight day of Christmas demonstrations and confrontations with police that led to more than 310 arrests in total, but vowed to return to the streets in force for a mass rally on January 1 to ring in the new year.

The government issued three sharply worded statements over a 24-hour period to reject accusations by Western media and activist groups of “police brutality” and “state repression”, after tear gas and pepper spray were used over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day to disperse protesters as radicals resorted to violence and vandalism during chaotic “shopping” rallies at malls across the city.

Riot police were out in force on Thursday, with officers spraying blue dye and subduing several protesters in Tai Po as groups also gathered in Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui and Tuen Mun.

Police said they had arrested more than 310 protesters between Tuesday and Thursday, 165 of them on Christmas Eve, including 105 near the force’s headquarters in Wan Chai, on suspicion of taking part in an illegal assembly.

A 19-year-old protester was injured after leaping over a railing from the first floor to the ground level of the Yoho shopping centre in Yuen Long to evade arrest that day.

Police published a Facebook post on Thursday morning, warning that “guns have entered the community”.

“If members of the public come across any pistol- or rifle-like objects or suspicious articles, please leave immediately and make a report to the police when the situation allows,” the post read.

The government also hit back at allegations that protesters’ rights were being violated with the use of excessive force.

“Violence has indeed escalated in recent weeks, including serious acts that endanger public safety and public order by blocking roadways, paralysing traffic, setting barricades, committing arson, vandalising shops and railway facilities, hurling bricks, throwing petrol bombs, flagrantly assaulting bystanders and violently attacking police officers,” a spokesman said.

“Increasingly lethal weapons including petrol bombs, catapults with steel ball bearings, explosive devices, bombs, bows and arrows have been used by radical protesters who have shown up well equipped with helmets, shields, goggles, respirators, masks, full body armour and protective gear. Such preparations are indicative of their intention to stage violent protests and directly confront and attack police officers, which mitigate the effectiveness and efficiency of lower level of force available to the police through standard anti-riot weapons.”

The city’s embattled leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, weighed in with a Facebook post on Wednesday to accuse protesters of ruining Christmas celebrations.

Read here