Tens Of Thousands Protest In Hong Kong As China Tensions Simmer Over Booksellers
HONG KONG, July 1
(Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents marched in protest on the
19th anniversary of the financial hub’s return to Chinese rule on Friday as
tensions simmer against Chinese authorities over the abductions of Hong Kong
booksellers.
Some waved banners
criticizing Beijing for the cross-border abductions as acts of a “totalitarian”
regime, as well as calling for the release of leading dissidents, chanting for
democracy and for Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying to step down.
Several hundred
scuffled with police outside Government House, with police using pepper spray
to keep them back. Organizers said 110,000 people took part in the march, while
police put the figure at 19,300. The July 1 protests
are considered a barometer of public sentiment towards Beijing, with the former
British colony due to hold citywide elections in September.
The city has been
unnerved over the past year by the disappearances of five booksellers who
specialized in works critical of Chinese leaders. One of the men, Lam Wing-kee,
who was detained for eight months by Chinese agents and released last month,
criticized Beijing for “violating Hong Kong’s rights” through illegal
cross-border enforcement operations.
The tactics have
raised fears of Communist Party rulers in Beijing eroding the so-called “one
country, two systems” formula, granting Hong Kong a high degree of freedom and
autonomy since its 1997 return from British to Chinese rule. China has denied
wrongdoing.
“This is a very grave
threat to the safety of Hong Kong residents that an unknown force is spying on
people,” said pro-democracy lawmaker Cyd Ho at the rally. “The Hong Kong
government has to follow up with the central government on what’s really
happening behind the scenes.” Hundreds of police
were also deployed to guard China’s main representative “Liaison Office” in
Hong Kong, after activists who advocate independence from China posted plans on
social media for a “black mask” evening protest to besiege the skyscraper.
Scores of young
people, some dressed in black T-shirts with the words “HK is not China,” were
searched by police in the area and roads were blocked off with metal barricades
to prevent trouble. Lam, who had been due
to lead the July 1 march that each year draws tens of thousands, pulled out,
citing safety concerns after being followed by two unknown strangers, a
lawmaker said. “He feels increasingly
concerned about his own personal safety,” said pro-democracy lawmaker Albert
Ho.
A senior Chinese
official, Wang Guangya, who heads the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in
Beijing, said the booksellers had “destroyed” the one country, two systems
formula by publishing banned books in mainland China. Chinese President Xi
Jinping, however, said in a speech on Friday that “no matter what the
difficulties and challenges, our confidence and determination towards one
country, two systems will not waver.”
Xi added Hong Kong
would continue to enjoy a high degree of autonomy and Beijing would strictly
adhere to the law. A 79-day “umbrella
revolution” in late 2014 demanding Beijing allow full democracy in Hong Kong
brought chaos to the streets.
see also