Violence continued in Hong Kong as anti-government demonstrations entered their 17th week. The police response was described by the Washington Post as "among the most aggressive" since the movement began over a now-withdrawn extradition bill which would have allowed China to forcibly move suspects to the mainland for face trial in communist courts.
Hong Kong police to pro-democracy protesters:— Alfons López Tena #FBPE (@alfonslopeztena) September 29, 2019
DISPERSE OR WE FIREpic.twitter.com/k6QLGcqhmR
Protesters destroyed signs and flags raised in advance of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the People's Republic of China, some of which were burned. According to WaPo, "At times, riot police appeared outnumbered. Shoppers at a luxury mall in central Hong Kong looked on as police and protesters engaged in a pitched battle. Protesters crouched, created a phalanx of umbrellas and tossed bricks and bottles toward the officers. Police fired round after round of tear gas."
The protesters inched forward as rubber bullets shredded their umbrellas. When it appeared the police might be outflanked, officers made a hasty retreat. Protesters seized the moment, rushing toward officers piling into police vans.
Demonstrators, cheered by onlookers and fellow marchers, hit the vans with poles and bottles as the vehicles sped away. The road was littered with glass and spent tear-gas canisters clinked across the asphalt as the protesters continued their march.
At nightfall in the nearby neighborhood of Wan Chai,residents left their homes and workplaces to jeer at police and pelt their vehicles with bricks and bottles. -Washington Post
When riot police started amassing inside Wan Chai station, frontline protesters worked to cut them off by barricading its entrances and hurling bricks, pulled from the sidewalk, down the escalators. pic.twitter.com/oQ7BdTI5f1— Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) September 29, 2019
Several people were seriously injured, including an Indonesian journalist based in Hong Kong who was hit in the eye by a projectile while live-streaming the event for her publication....Street battles broke between protesters and police who struggled to keep the demonstrators at bay with rubber bullets and tear gas.Residents and tourists were caught in the crossfire, clutching their faces and running in fear in several areas, including the neon-lit luxury shopping district of Causeway Bay. -Washington Post
In addition to tear gas, authorities deployed water cannons again - spraying protesters with blue die containing an irritant.
WATER CANNON: Blue dye with irritant is sprayed at demonstrators in Hong Kong #HongKongProtests #香港pic.twitter.com/EvSQq70vLq— Bloomberg TicToc (@tictoc) September 29, 2019
At approximately 5pm, riot police launched an aggressive clearance operation against protesters along Harcourt Road - a frequent location for clashes.
Police pushed young demonstrators to the asphalt road and dragged them away, leaving pools of blood. Hong Kong’s hospital authority said 13 people were admitted to hospitals by 7:30 p.m., including one in serious condition. -Washington Post
Arrested protesters were lined up against a wall outside a government building before being frisked and taken away.
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