Thousands-strong Hong Kong protest cut short by clashes

Clashes broke out between protesters and police in Hong Kong on Sunday, cutting short a rally after thousands h gared at a park to call for electoral reforms and a boycott of Chinese Communist Party.

Police fired tear gas near park, kwn as Chater Garden, after some protesters attacked plainclos officers — a return to violence that has roiled Chinese territory off and on for months.

Sporting ir movement's tremark black clothing and face masks, rally participants h earlier packed into Chater Garden, located near city's Legislative Council building. y held up signs that re "Free Hong Kong" and waved American and British flags.

"We want real universal suffr," protesters chanted. "Disband police force, free Hong Kong!" Hong Kong media outlets reported that police arrested rally's organizer, Ventus Lau, shortly after he spoke to reporters.

Local brocaster RTHK cited fellow organizers as saying that Lau was arrested for allegedly violating police's conditions for rally.

Earlier in day, Lau said he believes more large-scale protests are needed for global attention to return to Hong Kong, with protest movement losing some of its momentum in recent weeks.

"I think Hong Kong has t been focus of world anymore," he said.

He urged or countries to launch sanctions against Hong Kong's government if it does t allow residents to directly elect Legislative Council members this year.

A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997. While framework of “one country, two systems" promises city greater democratic rights than are afforded to mainland, protesters say ir freedoms have been steily eroding under Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Frictions between democracy-minded Hong Kongers and Communist Party-ruled central government in Beijing came to a he last June, when proposed extrition legislation sparked months of mass demonstrations.

bill — which would have allowed Hong Kong residents to be sent to mainland China to stand trial — has since been withdrawn, but protests have continued for more than seven months, centered around demands for voting rights and an independent inquiry into police conduct.

While protests began peacefully, y increasingly descended into violence after demonstrators became frustrated with government's response. y feel that Hong Kong leer Carrie Lam has igred ir demands and used police to suppress m.

In response to Sunday's rally, Hong Kong's government released a statement that warned against any foreign involvement. Beijing has repeatedly accused foreign countries like US of inciting riots in Hong Kong in a bid to sabot China's development.

statement outlined "universal suffr of 'one person, one vote' as an ultimate aim" enshrined in city's de facto constitution, kwn as Basic Law. This step must be implemented in line with "grual and orderly progress," statement said.

Underpinning protests is a deep distrust for central government and Xi, who is widely considered China's most authoritarian leer in deces. Some protesters have accused Lam of being "Beijing's puppet," a label she has rejected.

Demonstrators have routinely thrown bricks and gasoline bombs at riot police, who have responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and — on rare occasions — live rounds.

months of unrest have sent financial hub's ecomy reeling, as shops have shuttered during clashes and tourists have stayed away.

Hong Kong police gave approval for Sunday's rally, but t for a march that organizers h also planned. march didn't happen, and protest was curtailed by clashes after police ordered an end to rally hours before pre-approved finishing time.

Protesters used bricks, umbrellas and traffic barriers to barrice a ro. y ran for cover after riot police appeared around Chater Garden and raised yellow warning flags, telling demonstrators that y should disperse because y were participating in an illegal assembly.

Two officers were bleeding from he after a group of “rioters” attacked m with wooden sticks, police said in a statement, ding that some also lobbed water bottles and or objects at law enforcement. Ors threw paint bombs at buildings in Central business district, according to police.

Several young protesters were handcuffed outside park, as officers me arrests and conducted searches into evening. One man who refused to be searched retreated into a public restroom that was promptly surrounded by riot police. (AP) MRJ