Hong Kong’s young protesters back with a vengeance as all-out chaos erupts on city’s streets following anger at extradition bill
- Police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters laying siege to downtown areas in clashes that leave more than 70 injured
- US President Donald Trump says he hopes Hong Kong and Beijing will be able ‘to work it out’ and that he is impressed by size of Sunday’s mass rally
Hong Kong descended into all-out chaos on Wednesday, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, as tens of thousands surrounded the city’s administrative centre to block lawmakers from debating the government’s highly divisive extradition bill.
For the first time in the city’s history, riot police used tear gas and smoke bombs inside the Legislative Council building to beat back protesters trying to storm the premises after camping outside overnight and taking over all access roads to the Admiralty compound in the morning.
Trump had a reassuring message as well, saying: “I hope it all works out for China and for Hong Kong … I understand the reason for the demonstration but I’m sure they’ll be able to work it out.”
Students and youths were back with a vengeance – this time seemingly more organised and prepared for the showdown, with face masks, goggles and makeshift body armour, their actions coordinated spontaneously on the ground and through encrypted messaging.
Umbrellas were also back as protection from pepper spray and batons, as protesters repeatedly charged police lines in scenes reminiscent of – and even more intense than – the Occupy protests of 2014, when demonstrators demanding greater democracy brought key parts of Hong Kong to a standstill for 79 straight days.