Published 20:40 IST, November 18th 2019
PM Johnson's spokesperson says UK is 'seriously concerned' about Hong Kong violence
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson said that Britain remains “seriously concerned” by the escalating violence between demonstrators and police
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.
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.
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.
(With Inputs from Agencies)
Updated 23:39 IST, November 18th 2019