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Hong Kong: Policemen use batons charge on protesters during a protest in Hong Kong, Sunday, July 28, 2019. (AP/PTI)[/caption]
Beijing, July 29 (IANS): At least 49 people have been arrested after 16 were injured during the latest mass demonstration that swept the financial district of Hong Kong, and which went ahead despite being banned by the authorities, the island's police said on Monday.
According to a statement given by the police, the people were arrested for taking part in Sunday's illegal rally, punishable with a three to five-year prison sentence and hefty fines, and for the possession of offensive weapons.
A total of 16 people were injured, of which four have already been discharged from hospital and the rest remain stable, according to the supervisory authority of the city's hospitals cited by local media.
The authorities had denied permission for a 2km march from Chater Garden to Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park in the city's downtown area, claiming it was dangerous, though they did allow a public meeting at the Chater Garden.
However, that did not prevent thousands of people, in several groups, from turning out and protesting on the main streets of the area, reported Efe news.
According to the statement, the protesters attacked officers with "bricks, glass bottles, paint bombs; pouring suspected corrosive liquids; and shooting metal marbles with a crossbow".
This is a new phase in the demonstrations that began in early June in Hong Kong against a controversial extradition bill.
Protesters now have broader demands regarding the democratic mechanisms of the former British colony, whose sovereignty reverted to China in 1997 after Beijing committed to maintaining its special system of common law until 2047.
China backs Lam, Hong Kong police; calls on HK people to oppose violence
China on Monday threw its backing behind Hong Kong's beleaguered pro-Beijing Chief Executive Carrie Lam as well as the city's police and called on people in the financial hub to oppose and resist violence.
Hong Kong has been witnessing a violent mass outrage with thousands taking to streets against the government's plan to allow extraditions to the Communist nation.
Weighing its options including deployment of troops to deal with growing pro-democracy protests in the former British colony, a wary China also accused some Western politicians of stirring unrest in the financial hub in hopes of creating difficulties for the country's overall development.
Addressing a much-publicised press conference, Yang Guang and Xu Luying, spokespersons for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, took a number of questions about the current turmoil in Hong Kong, the worst since the former British colony was handed over to China in 1997.
They praised Lam and Hong Kong police in dealing with protests mainly carried out by youth and students.
"Since taking office as Hong Kong's chief executive in 2017, Carrie Lam's contribution to public welfare and economic development is well recognised On July 1, we took notice that Lam pledged to govern with a more tolerant and open style. Beijing will resolutely continue supporting her administration," Yang said, brushing aside calls for her resignation.
He also praised Hong Kong police when asked whether China will back appointment of an independent commission of inquiry into police actions.
"Hong Kong police in the past month have been under a lot of pressure. They have done their best to protect society and maintain stability, and have made a great degree of sacrifice," he said.
The protests which began few weeks ago over the move by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region headed by Lam to introduce a bill to extradite wanted local persons to the Chinese mainland have now turned into a major rebellion with protestors demanding universal franchise of 'one person, one vote' with freedom for all the locals to contest the local elections.
Lam, a former bureaucrat, was elected in 2017 through a controversial process of China vetting contestants for the local legislature which was opposed by the pro-democracy activists.
Her announcement that the bill is dead has not satisfied the protestors who are now calling for its total withdrawal and her resignation.
Answering a spate of questions at Monday's press conference, which is the first since Hong Kong was handed over to China by Britain, Yang and Xu were guarded in their comments on deployment of Chinese troops which was widely believed to provoke more protests.
Asked whether China would deploy its troops stationed at a garrison in the Hong Kong on the streets, Yang said, "the Basic Law has clear statements on that question, and I have nothing to add."
For the first time, the Chinese military on Wednesday warned the protestors in Hong Kong that it could deploy its soldiers to quell the agitation and maintain social order at the request of the city's government.
Yang also spoke of China's bottom line in dealing with the growing dissent in Hong Kong.
Asked what Beijing would do to assure Hong Kong that "one country, two systems" - the political system China had agreed during that time of Hong Kong's handover from Britain - would be in place, Yang said, "this depends on how they understand the situation. It is a complete ideology."
He said the bottom line for China is that no harm should be done to its national security and it should pose no challenge to the central government's authority and the Basic Law. Hong Kong also should not be used as a base to undermine China, he said.
