Police and protesters clash during annual New Year's Day march in Hong Kong. Police say 400 people were arrested.
Police arrive on a street laid with bricks by protesters in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Hong Kong toned down its New Year’s celebrations amid the protests that began in June and which have dealt severe blows to the city’s retail, tourism and nightlife sectors.
Banks and businesses identified with mainland China have been frequent targets of hardcore protesters. The massive rally followed overnight clashes between police and protesters on New Year’s Eve in a densely populated shopping district. Police also used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons to break up groups of demonstrators who blocked traffic and lit fires in the street in the working class district of Mong Kok.
“We hope that the police can facilitate us, rather than provoking us, and to fire tear gas and water cannon at us,” he said. This year’s event appeared to be significantly larger than in past years, although estimates of the numbers of participants often vary widely between organizers and police. The protests show no sign of ending despite an overwhelming victory by anti-establishment candidates in recent elections for district representatives, although their frequency and the level of violence has dropped off somewhat.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
400 protesters in Hong Kong arrested after thousands join New Year's Day rallyAround 400 protesters were arrested after a police-approved march attended by tens of thousands on New Year's Day escalated into violence, authorities said.
Read more »
Tear gas fired at Hong Kong New Year's protestsA New Year’s Day march drew thousands of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. More here:
Read more »
Hong Kong police fire tear gas during mass New Year's day marchHong Kong police fired several rounds of tear gas at crowds during a New Year&0...
Read more »
Hong Kong New Year's Day march called off after bricks and petrol bombs thrownTens of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong on New Year's Day, but the march was later called off after police said bricks and petrol bombs had been thrown.
Read more »
No. 5: Hong Kong Protests Rock China and LuxuryThe political protests in Hong Kong hit luxury and fashion sales hard, and worries remain for 2020.
Read more »