Hong Kong police fire tear gas amid renewed tensions, protests

HONG KONG, May 24, 2020, The Straits Times. The game of cat and mouse between anti-government protesters and riot police in Hong Kong was renewed on Sunday (May 24), as people heeded online calls to gather at Sogo in Causeway Bay to demonstrate, The Straits Times reported.

At least hundreds – and some media say thousands – of people gathered outside Sogo for a planned march, despite heavy police presence and a ban on public gatherings of more than eight.

Police said in statements on Sunday that they had to deploy tear gas after some rioters blocked various roads such as Hennessy Road, Yee Wo Street and Fleming Road, “with miscellaneous objects, causing serious obstruction to the road traffic”.

Police also used water cannon to disperse the crowd in Causeway Bay.

Compared with the unrest last year, this time smaller groups of black-clad protesters appeared in different areas in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai to block roads.

The renewed tensions come as Beijing on Friday moved to directly enforce a controversial national security law in Hong Kong by announcing a draft resolution to be voted this week.

Despite reassurances from pro-Beijing lawmakers and Chief Executive Carrie Lam that China’s decision will not erode freedoms in Hong Kong, the opposition camp and activists begged to differ, particularly as Beijing said in the draft that it can set up national security agencies in the territory to aid local authorities with enforcement.