Thousands of protesters descended upon police headquarters on Wednesday night, in another spontaneous demonstration by anti-extradition law activists.
During a mass rally in Central organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, activists Baggio Leung, Tony Chung and Joe Yeung called upon protesters to surround Wan Chai’s police base, in a repeat of scenes from last Friday.
#NoToChinaExtradition protesters are now gathering in Wan Chai, answering a spontaneous call to surround Police Headquarters again. They are demanding accountability for the police crackdown during the June 12 protest. 👉 Story: https://t.co/JpfeLu4u39 pic.twitter.com/kegWAb91sc
— Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) June 26, 2019
The protesters – many clad in black and facemasks – chanted “Hong Kong police knowingly break the law.”
Others shouted “come down” and “come out,” as they called for an investigation into the use of force during the June 12 protests in Admiralty.
They used barricades and zip ties to block entrances to the police facility.
Others used tape to cover CCTV cameras around the building’s perimeter.
Protesters blocked entrances to police headquarters in Wan Chai on Wednesday evening, after thousands rallied in Central. They used metal barriers tied together with plastic zip ties as barricades.
👉In full: https://t.co/kmLJLFCnSX pic.twitter.com/69VDr8rIxH
— Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) June 26, 2019
They also used cones and barricades to halt traffic on nearby roads.
A banner reading “Release the righteous [arrested protesters!]” was unfurled on the building’s facade.
Earlier on Wednesday, thousands gathered in Edinburgh Place, Central urging G20 leaders to back their demands ahead of the leaders’ summit in Osaka, Japan on Friday.
”List of demands from the Civil Human Rights Front- Click to view“
1. Complete withdrawal of the extradition bill.
2. Accountability for police’s decision to shoot tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bags at protesters on June 12.
3. Release arrested protesters and withdraw all charges.
4. Withdraw all characterisations of the June 12 protest as a “riot.”
5. Chief Executive Carrie Lam to resign as Chief Executive.
They wielded signs that read “Free Hong Kong” and “Democracy Now.”
The government proposed legal amendments in February that would enable the chief executive and local courts to handle case-by-case fugitive transfer requests from jurisdictions with no prior agreements, most notably China. Critics have raised concerns over the risk of residents being extradited to the mainland, which lacks human rights protections.
Demonstrators are set to rally again on Thursday morning at the justice secretary’s office.
Additional reporting: Jennifer Creery.
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