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For the 17th week in a row protests in Hong Kong continued, ahead of China’s 70th anniversary on October 1st.
This week the protests began on September 29th – Sunday and continued on September 30th.
In anticipation, the metro company MTR closed at least four stations along the demonstration route, and police occupied footbridges where protesters usually gather. Police were also stationed in front of a church where protesters have previously sought refuge, and searched people entering and leaving the church. Shopping centres and many shops also closed.
It shows that authorities are catching on to the operation method of the violent protesters, but this simply led to open confrontations on the streets.
An Indonesian journalist, Veby Mega Indah, was hit by a rubber bullet, while she was covering the protests, it appeared to be a misfire from the police, which was clearly not aiming at her, and more likely at the protesters throwing glass bottles at police officers.
Veby had been wearing a high visibility vest with the word “press” written on it, had displayed her press credentials and was wearing a helmet during the incident, the Hong Kong Journalist Association said in a statement.
“We deplore the use and threat of violence towards journalists covering events in Hong Kong from any source and call on police and protesters to allow journalists to carry out their job of reporting the facts without risk of serious injury or threats of violence,” it added.
1650, an Indonesian reporter interviewed on the footbridge of Gloucester Road in Wan Chai was shot in the right eye. #929GlobalAntiTotalitarianism #HKPoliceTerrorism #StandWithHongKong pic.twitter.com/5raKEEiJPG
— kit (@yukisuet1) September 29, 2019
Protesters were throwing petrol bombs at police, in addition to glass bottles and stones, there were clashes between riot police and demonstrators around the city. Barricades were, once again, set on fire.
13 people were injured during the protests. This round of protests was called the “Anti Totalitarianism March,” some wearing masks of Donald Trump, waving American flags, and calling for “freedom.”
Teamwork in action. People lining up in long lines along the street to quickly pass supplies to protesters at the front. Zip ties and umbrellas making their way up the lines. #HongKong #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/TeAPEhEBJd
— Charlotte Chelsom-Pill (@charlottejourno) September 29, 2019
There were some demonstrations in Sydney and in Taipei in support of the Hong Kong protesters.
Hong Kong police on September 30th said they had fired 306 rounds of rubber bullets, 328 rounds of tear gas, 95 beanbag rounds and 79 foam bullets.
Still, despite accusations of police brutality, only a single live round has been fired in 17 weeks of protests, and it was when a group of riot police were surrounded by a mob of violent protesters. An officer shot the live round in the air.
The situation on October 1st promises to be much more violent, as even Hong Kong police are warning that the situation would be “very, very dangerous.”
“After our analysis, we’re expecting the situation tomorrow to be very, very dangerous,” Superintendent John Tse told reporters.
“Core rioters are increasing their violence. The depth and breadth of their violence and plans show that they are increasingly resorting to terrorism,” he said.
When asked why @hkpoliceforce now describe protests as a “step closer to terrorism”, they say violence now more organised, intense & escalated, and radicals online are planning to “murder police officers” by asking suicidal people to commit that act pic.twitter.com/KuDd9xYhxE
— Leong Wai Kit (@LeongWaiKitCNA) September 30, 2019
Over the weekend, @hkpoliceforce says 43% of the 157 people arrested are students, the youngest being 12 years old, adding this is a worrying trend pic.twitter.com/ZbsFzJHkTY
— Leong Wai Kit (@LeongWaiKitCNA) September 30, 2019
Superintendent Tse said: “We are on the verge of extreme danger.
“We’ve got intelligence suggesting that some hardcore violent protesters are inciting others, including those with suicidal tendencies, to commit extreme acts, such as murdering the police, disguising as police officers to kill others and setting fires in petrol stations.
“All acts are one step closer to terrorism.”
.@hkpoliceforce Chief Superintendent John Tse shows the extent of damage of the police shield cause by violence protesters over the weekend pic.twitter.com/lGUQUQYtvc
— Afifah Ariffin (@AfifahCNA) September 30, 2019
A total of 157 people were also arrested, including 67 students, over the weekend. Two of the protest leaders, Gregory Wong and Ventus Lau, were among those arrested for their involvement in protests on September 30th, according to a representative for the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), the organizer of previous mass protests.
It is likely that on October 1st there would be a sharp increase in intensity of “pro-democracy” protesters vandalizing property and attacking the riot police, to which the authorities would be forced to respond.
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CIA and MI6 have been busy with a color coded rent a “protest” in a delusional quest to “contain and roll back” China’s rise. This is just the opening phase.
More like the US and Soros, but whatever.
Time for China to move in, in my view; hit them hard and deport them elsewhere.
That’s not bad.
These arseholes wanted to embarrass China on the 70th anniversary of the Communist Revolution. It made fuckall difference and the CCP organized a magnificent parade and military display with MIRV ICBMs. I agree, it it time the PRC send the PLA in and bash some pony heads in Hong Kong.
Now they revealed theirs ugly, violent face, because morons are loosing nervs. Hong Kong was China, and it will stay like that, no matter what CIA spies would like to be.
boring – close them down and lock them up – long term incarceration might do the trick and teach whoever to leave china well alone!
The murder of policemen as happened in Ukraine is the next step, well known by the Chinese.