Published 20:54 IST, October 1st 2019
Hong Kong: Thousands of people march on Communist Party's anniversary
Thousands of protesters gathered with multiple rallies challenging the Chinese Communist Party as it marks its 70th year of rule, had to face the rough patches.
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Thousands of protesters gathered with multiple rallies challenging the Chinese Communist Party as it marks its 70th year of rule, had to face the rough patches as Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Police uses tear gas to break the crowd on National Day
Dozens of Police officers recruited, forming a security cordon, backed by a water cannon truck, preventing the protest to escalate and advancing to Beijing's liaison office in the city. The streets of Hong Kong soon turned into battlefields, as hundreds of black-clad protesters struggled with the police officials in charge. Police fired multiple rounds of tear gas at the Wong Tai Sin, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun areas as protesters hurled gas bombs, bricks and other objects in their direction.
The Chinese Police claim that protesters used corrosive fluid in Tuen Mun, injuring officers and some reporters, turning the situations tough to handle. The city was already under tight security, and more subway stations were shuttered as the violence spread.
No reasons to celebrate
Activist Lee Cheuk-yan highlighted the issue by saying that they were out to tell the Communist Party that Hong Kong people have no reasons to celebrate. He also added that the protesters were mourning that in 70 years of Communist Party rule, the democratic rights of people in Hong Kong and China are being denied.
The protesters wanted to convey the message that they will never stop fighting for their rights. Many shopping malls across Hong Kong were shut amid fears of chaos. Posters put up in every corner called for the Oct. 1 anniversary to be marked as "A Day of Grief and urged people to wear a black T-shirt and dark jeans. 40-year-old Bob Wong said his clothing expressed "mourning" over "the death of Hong Kong's future.
Black-clad Yvonne Ng, 67, fumed over the arrest of many young people in the months-long protests. She explained how she refused to celebrate the National Day, by ambling through the Causeway Bay shopping district. The popular LIHKG online chat forum used by protesters was inaccessible on cellphones, believed to have been hacked to prevent communication by protesters.
On Tuesday morning, police used pepper spray to break up a brief scuffle between Beijing supporters and a small group of pro-democracy protesters as the city's government marked the anniversary in a solemn ceremony. An annual fireworks display had been called off two weeks ago.
15:42 IST, October 1st 2019