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Hong Kong police fire tear gas at protesters in shopping district

Demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans in a New Territories shopping mall as pro-China demonstrators sang the Chinese national anthem on Victoria Peak under a sweltering sun.

Hong Kong police fire tear gas at protesters in shopping district

(Photo: IANS)

Hong Kong police fired tear gas and pepper spray to break up anti-government protesters on Sunday as the government announced that the city leader Carrie Lam will be out of town for China’s Oct 1 National Day celebrations, removing a possible new flashpoint.

The clash, which marked the 17th straight weekend of anti-government protests came about 14 hours after the police deployed water cannons and teargas to disperse demonstrators after a lawful rally near the government headquarters on Saturday evening, Efe news reported.

Sunday’s march, which was dubbed “Global Rally Against Tyranny”, was organised by the Stand With Hong Kong group, which called on Hong Kong citizens to take to the streets to protest against totalitarian rule and fight for “freedom, justice and democracy”.

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Demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans in a New Territories shopping mall as pro-China demonstrators sang the Chinese national anthem on Victoria Peak under a sweltering sun.

About 200 people dressed in red T-shirts gathered on top of the Peak, overlooking the harbour, at around midday. They sang the Chinese national anthem and chanted “I love China”.

Lam, the focus of weeks of anti-government unrest, will leave for Beijing on Monday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic. China’s National Day is on Oct 1.

Protests were sparked in June by planned legislation since withdrawn, that would have allowed the extradition of suspected criminals to mainland China. But they have since expanded into a broader pro-democracy movement.

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