Hong Kong police say student arrests at protests increase

Hong Kong police said that students accounted for 29% of nearly 1,600 people detained in pro-democracy protests since June and urged young people to take “straight and narrow path” as more major rallies are planned this weekend. Police public relations chief Tse Chun-Chung said Friday that 207 high school and university students were detained this month alone despite resumption of classes after summer holiday, compared to 257 over June-August period. He said re was a rise in teenrs participating in violent crimes, with some alrey charged in court. This included a 16-year-old charged with arson, which carries possible life imprisonment, a 13-year-old girl charged with desecrating Chinese flags and ors with attacking police officers and carrying dangerous weapons.

“It is an alarming trend to us,” he said at a news conference. “It is worrying to see se youths breaking law and possibly having criminal records at such a young and tender . We appeal to all youngsters to rethink ir actions and hope education sector and parents will help our young people to walk straight and narrow path.”

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Anti-China campaign

Young people have largely led protests that started in June over a China extrition bill that government has since agreed to withdraw. But movement has since drawn wider participation as it swballed into a wider anti-China campaign against what protesters say is Beijing’s creeping intrusion into Hong Kong’s automy promised when former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Protesters have widened ir demands to include direct elections for city’s leers and an independent inquiry into police use of force against protesters. Thousands of people std a peaceful protest at a downtown square Friday night against alleged abuse of power by police, waving anti-police banners and chanting pro-democracy slogans. government has said complaints against police will be examined by a police watchdog ncy that critics say is toothless and has real investigative powers.

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Umbrella revolution

Police have approved a major rally in downtown Hong Kong on Saturday organized by Civil Human Rights Front to mark fifth anniversary of start of Umbrella Revolution when protesters occupied key thoroughfares in city for 79 days in 2014 to demand universal suffr. That movement ended without any government concession. Protesters are also organizing “anti-totalitarianism” rallies in Hong Kong and many cities worldwide on Sunday against what y deunced as China’s tyranny. Tse appealed to protesters to stop hijacking peaceful protests, like what happened in previous rallies when some lobbed gasoline bombs, set off street fires and vandalized public utilities. Police have responded with tear gas, water canns, and or measures, prompting complaints from protesters that y are using excessive force. Civil Human Rights Front is also planning ar big march on Oct. 1, sparking fears of a bloody showdown that could embarrass China’s ruling Communist Party as it marks its 70th year in power with grand festivities in Beijing. Hong Kong government has scaled down National Day celebrations by calling off an annual firework display and moving a reception indoors.

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