PM Johnson's spokesperson says UK is 'seriously concerned' about Hong Kong violence

After the United States condemned the unjustified use of force in Hong Kong against the pro-democracy protesters, spokesperson of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Britain remains “seriously concerned” by the escalating violence between demonstrators and police. The spokesperson also urged the authorities of the semi-autonomous region to agree to a path to resolve the situation. Johnson’s spokesperson called for restraint requesting to support the right to peaceful protest.

Ban on face masks unconstitutional

Hong Kong is in a state of turmoil after weeks of protests and violent clashes between police and pro-democracy protesters. Officials have tried to put an end to the protests through various means but have failed to achieve it. In another jolt to the authorities, who had banned the use of face masks during protests, High Court of Hong Kong ruled the move unconstitutional on November 18.

"The restrictions it imposes on fundamental rights go further than is reasonably necessary...and therefore fail to meet the proportionality test," the court said in a press statement.

Read: Hong Kong Police Warn People Of Using 'live Fire' As Campus Protest Siege Deepens

Protests from University campus

Protesters have made university campuses as their battlefield for anti-government protests. Police wanted protesters to leave a university campus in Hong Kong as they had barricaded themselves inside the campus. Hong Kong police, which has already used live rounds to suppress the protest, warned to use it on demonstrators after pro-democracy protesters threw petrol bombs at officers at a university campus. Anti-Beijing protesters have been finding new ways to fight the police officers during the violent clashes. They have resorted to medieval weapons like bow and arrows and bricks and nails. On November 17, protesters turned a construction site upside down as part of the “Rescue PolyU” operation, to regain the control of the beleaguered Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 

Read: Hong Kong: Protestors Resort To Using Bow And Arrows And Other Medieval Weapons

Casualties during protests

Six months of the anti-government protests are getting violent with every passing day, causing chaos in the city of 7.5 million people. Recently, a Hong Kong police officer shot at protesters during the violent clashes, on November 11, which hit at least one of them in the chest in the district of Sai Wan Ho. The clashes were broadcasted live on Facebook in which a police officer can be seen shooting a protester in the chest area when he tried to stop the officer from detaining a fellow masked protester. 

Read: Hong Kong High Court Rules Ban On Face Masks Unconstitutional

Read: US Condemns 'unjustified Use Of Force' As Clashes Escalate In Hong Kong

(With Inputs from Agencies)