Hong Kong protest News

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam cheered the city`s "return to stability" during China national day celebrations on Thursday, as hundreds of police in riot gear patrolled the route of a banned anti-government protest. Protesters wanted to march against Beijing`s imposition of a sweeping national security law on June 30 and demand the return of 12 Hong Kong people China arrested at sea in August on their way to self-ruled Taiwan. Lam attended a flag raising ceremony with other senior Hong Kong and mainland officials in a centre for exhibitions surrounded by police and security barriers.

Hong Kong police arrested prominent democracy activist Joshua Wong on Thursday for participating in an unauthorised assembly in October 2019 and violating the city`s anti-mask law. Wong`s latest arrest adds to several unlawful assembly charges or suspected offences he and other activists are facing related to last year`s pro-democracy protests. Hong Kong police confirmed they arrested two men, aged 23 and 74, on Thursday for illegal assembly on October 5, 2019.

After the pro-democracy protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019, China is now ready to impose a new national security legislation on the island nation.

Pro-democracy activist Ventus Lau was arrested on Sunday evening on charges of "obstruction of police administration" and violating terms set when permission was granted for the protest, the Hong Kong Civil Assembly Team said in a statement.

About 100 protesters were trapped in the Polytechnic University a day after students, some tired and fearful of police storming the campus, tried again and again to flee, only to be beaten back by police firing rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam had said many times the bill was as good as dead. 

Violence gripped Hong Kong on Friday after thousands swept into the streets triggered by government`s decision to invoke a colonial-era law for the first time in over half a century to use it to ban face masks

Police said they arrested a total of 157 people, including 67 students, over the weekend and estimated nearly 100 petrol bombs were thrown. They said eight police officers were injured. The Chinese territory is on edge on the eve of the anniversary, with authorities eager to avoid scenes that could embarrass the central government in Beijing. 

Hong Kong police fired tear gas on Sunday to break up pro-democracy protesters who trashed fittings at a station and shopping mall, the latest in more than three months of often violent unrest.

Airport authorities suspended check-in operations following massive protests.

It was the first time the rioting charge has been used during protests which erupted over an extradition bill that would have allowed people in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China for trial.

Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray in a series of skirmishes on Wednesday to clear demonstrators from the city`s legislature. 

The charges relate to Leung's involvement in Lunar New Year clashes in February 2016.