Hong Kong Police Breakup Pro-Democracy Protests
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Smoke and screams of panicked people filled central Hong Kong on Sunday as security forces fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators.
People rallied on Sunday to protest against Beijing’s plan to impose national security laws on the city and former British colony.
Mainland China’s 3,000-member rubber-stamp legislature is due to adopt “national security” legislation that would ban treason, secession, sedition, and subversion in Hong Kong. The Communist leadership unveiled in Beijing unveiled the plans at the opening of China’s once-a-year National People’s Congress on Friday.
Activists expressed outrage Sunday amid fears that Beijing will use the new legislation to subvert semi-autonomous Hong Kong’s remaining rights, which include freedom of speech and assembly, and the city’s independent judiciary.
If that happens, it would be a death knell for the “One Country, Two Systems” policy that officially guarantees Hong Kong’s semi-autonomy until 2047.
PRESSURE ON CHRISTIANS
The legislation could also add to pressure on devoted Christians in Hong Kong, many of whom were supporting protests, Worthy News established.
Beijing already appointed a hardliner notorious for overseeing the demolition of thousands of Christian crosses on churches in mainland China as an envoy for dealing with Hong Kong.
Xia Baolong, an ally of China’s President Xi Jinping, became director of the ‘Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office,’ adding to fears he could limit freedom of expression including freedom of worship in Hong Kong.
“We must stand up and fight,” said Joshua Wong, a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist. “We will never surrender. We will fight back.” That wasn’t easy. Police raised blue flags, warning protesters to disperse before firing multiple rounds of tear gas. They later used a water cannon against protesters.
At least 120 people were detained on charges of unlawful assembly polices explained later in a statement. As dusk fell and police and protestors faced-off at a nightlife district, authorities tried to calm down investors. Chinese and Hong Kong officials said the security laws were necessary but would not threaten Hong Kong’s autonomy.
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