Team News Riveting
Nearly 300 people were arrested over protests against Hong Kong’s postponed elections.
In an unprecedented display of defiance, hundreds of Hong Kong protesters gathered in the bustling district of Jordan on Sunday afternoon to protest against the postponement of the Legislative Council elections, citywide COVID-19 testing and Beijing’s draconian national security law on the city.
“Give us back the right to vote,” demonstrators chanted a new slogan as they took to the streets again and made their way towards Mong Kok.
Since Sunday early afternoon, police patrolling had been intensified on the roads and large groups of riot officers were stationed on every block. People were unable to walk along the thoroughfare of Nathan Road and instead weaved through streets and traffic. Officers conducted stopped and searched operations in the district throughout the day.
Roadblocks also returned to the Cross-Harbor Tunnel for officers to randomly pull over any vehicles passing through and search every passenger. A bus driver wearing a respirator was arrested for reportedly honking the car’s horn at officers. Police claimed the driver drove too close to officers and arrested him for dangerous driving.
Police also fired pepper balls at protesters in Mong Kok and unfurled the purple flag, warning people who chanted the popular protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times” of violating the national security law.
As the report last came in at 9 p.m. Sunday, at least 289 were arrested for unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct, assaulting and obstructing officers, according to the police.
