Protests in Hong Kong continue for 16th consecutive weekend; Chinese flags set on fire

By ANI News  |  First Published Sep 23, 2019, 11:02 AM IST

On September 4, Hong Kong citizens breathed a sigh of relief after pro-China leader and Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam decided to withdraw the controversial extradition bill that allows local Hong Kong people to be prosecuted in the Chinese mainland. However, with no further updates, the demonstrators called for a protest.

Hong Kong: Angered protesters on Sunday vandalised a subway station and burnt Chinese flags and trampled them after pro-democracy demonstrations once again took a violent turn for the 16th consecutive weekend.

In a report, Al Jazeera said that demonstrators clashed with riot police outside a mall as officers fired brief volleys of tear gas and rubber-coated bullets in the northern town of Sha Tin.

The report further said that the authorities reduced rail and bus links to the city's airport while police stepped up security checks in a successful bid to stop a crowd from massing at the bustling transport hub.

Also read: Days after massive protest in Hong Kong, Carrie Lam all set to withdraw extradition bill

Also, the Hong Kong airport, which is the world's eighth busiest, has become a frequent target for demonstrators pushing for greater democratic rights and police accountability.

"Even if we are very tired, we can't give up on our rights," said a teacher who participated in the rally.

"If it [the movement] stretches to 100 days, 200 days or even 1,000 days and we still don't get what we want, we will continue to come out," the teacher added.

Also read: Protests suspended in Hong Kong to mark September 11 anniversary in the US

Millions of supporters of the pro-democracy movement have taken to Hong Kong's streets for the past three months in the biggest challenge to China's rule since the city's handover from Britain in 1997.

With very few having demands fulfilled, violent clashes across the semi-autonomous region have become more intense and frequent in recent weeks.

The protests were ignited by a now-aborted plan to allow extraditions to mainland China.

Also read: Facebook suspends Hong Kong Police's WhatsApp hotlines citing ‘non-personal use’

But after Beijing and the leaders of the administrative region took a hard line over the bill, the movement propelled into a much wider expression of rage at the city's local government and life under Chinese rule.

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