Anti-government protests broke out in Hong Kong the night of Saturday Sept. 21 with violent clashes between police and the protestors. Another day of protests followed Sunday morning after tear gas temporarily subdued protesters who threw gas bombs and set fires in the streets.
Airport transit authorities immediately closed two stations near the Hong Kong International Airport to guard against any disruptions, but the protests Sunday were at a shopping mall in a nearby district.
Saturday, Hong Kong police also arrested two 13-year-olds who were on the fringes of the protest. One of the children arrested is accused of burning a Chinese flag. They are also accused of attacking police officers with bricks, attempting to steal a police officer’s firearm and assaulting two unarmed men. The one child was released on bail Sunday afternoon.
These arrests are signs that the local police are taking the pro-democracy demonstrators more seriously and are drawing a harder line against them following almost four months of protests, according to the New York Times.
The protesters made many demands, the biggest being fully democratic elections despite the fact that Hong Kong is semi-autonomous. Though the demonstration turned into a pro-democracy campaign, it began with a now-withdrawn extradition bill.
The protest started small and peaceful, with activists creating a show of folded paper origami cranes. They also started chanting slogans, which helped draw a large crowd of spectators. But after video footage showed a Chinese flag being trampled and thrown into a river, the demonstrators began smashing glass, spraying water and throwing trash cans down escalators in the crowded shopping mall and surrounding areas.
These protests join other previous ones that started in June and have since reignited. Those also concerned the extradition bill, which critics said had the potential to allow human rights abuses, according to BBC. Local ordinances say people convicted of desecrating the Chinese flag by “publicly and willfully burning, mutilating, scrawling on, defiling or trampling on it” face a fine of up to $6,400 and imprisonment of up to three years. However, while children older than 10 can be found guilty of committing crimes, none younger than 14 can be imprisoned as a result.
The protestors’ demands have been rejected by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who serves both Beijing and Hong Kong. Lam vowed on Sunday to stop the violence.
These protests are an “embarrassment” for China’s Communist party, which is planning its Oct. 1 celebration of 70 years in power, according to The Guardian. They have since canceled a fireworks display because of concern for public safety.
