Hong Kong protesters and journalists were attacked in the North Point area on Sunday night after a mass demonstration on Hong Kong Island turned ugly.
Protesters were retreating from Admiralty and Wan Chai following confrontations with riot police, as several MTR stations near the area were closed down. As they fled, some demonstrators lit fires, sprayed graffiti and vandalised MTR exits with some gathering outside Fortress Hill station at around 8pm.
Outside the station, more than 10 men in white with folding chairs and metal bars chased after protesters. Some chanted, “Fujian people, beat the cockroaches! Fight on police!” The area – which has been a historic hotspot for unrest – has a significant population originally from the Fujian province.
Protesters were retreating from Admiralty and Wan Chai following confrontations with riot police, as several MTR stations near the area were closed down. As they fled, some demonstrators lit fires, sprayed graffiti and vandalised MTR exits with some gathering outside Fortress Hill station at around 8pm.
Outside the station, more than 10 men in white with folding chairs and metal bars chased after protesters. Some chanted, “Fujian people, beat the cockroaches! Fight on police!” The area – which has been a historic hotspot for unrest – has a significant population originally from the Fujian province.
The man was seriously injured and showed signs of bleeding as first-aid volunteers tried to treat him.
In another clip published by Campus TV, a man in blue was seen swearing at and fighting with protesters.
At around 10pm, a group of men holding knives were seen pouring gasoline on Ming Yuen Western Street in North Point. Police arrived after receiving reports.
The men then entered the office of the Hong Kong First Youth Association. Police then entered the premises to investigate and took away at least nine people, including seven men and two women.
When the people were taken into police vans, several of them were not handcuffed as police shielded their faces. Journalists asked the police why their faces were being hidden but did not receive an answer.
At around 10:30pm, a young man was arrested in Fortress Hill after being accused of assaulting a police officer. NowTV footage showed that his head was pushed into the ground as he bled heavily.
At around 11pm, police deployed tear gas in North Point after demanding protesters leave the area. The police then searched people in North Point and made several arrests.
Among them was a couple who said they were going home, but were then surrounded by police. Pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui stepped in and asked officers if the couple had been arrested and – if so – for what reason. Police ordered Hui to leave, but Hui said he was on the pavement and not within the police defence line. He was then arrested for obstruction.
Meanwhile, Baptist University’s student Broadcast News Network issued a statement saying that a student reporter was arrested after he was searched in North Point for holding a knife. BNN said the student journalist had explained the knife was for cutting festive mooncakes, but he was still arrested. The student’s parents and the journalism department of the school have been following up with the incident.
Hong Kong has seen 100 days of demonstration and unrest triggered by the soon-to-be-withdrawn extradition bill, which would have allowed case-by-case fugitive transfers to China. However, large-scale peaceful protests have morphed into sometimes violent displays of dissent over Beijing’s encroachment and alleged police brutality.
Read more at https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/09/16/hong-kong-protesters-journalists-attacked-bloody-night-north-point/
