Hundreds of protesters stormed Hong Kong’s parliament late Monday as the territory marked its China handover anniversary, ransacking the building and daubing its walls with graffiti as the city plunged into unprecedented depths of political chaos.
The financial hub has been rocked by three weeks of record-breaking demonstrations against a hugely unpopular bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland.
Once inside they tore down portraits of the city’s leaders, hoisted a British colonial-era flag in the main chamber and sprayed the city crest with black paint.Riot police appeared to have abandoned the building, which had been on lockdown. “We have marched, staged sit-ins… but the government has remained unmoved,” Joey, a 26-year-old protester, said as he walked over shattered glass inside the building.A protester surnamed Cheung, 24, added: “We know that this is breaking the law, but we have no choice”.The past three weeks of rallies are the latest expression of growing fears that China is stamping down on the city’s freedoms and culture with the help of the finance hub’s pro-Beijing leaders.
The city enjoys rights and liberties unseen on the autocratic mainland, but many residents fear Beijing is already reneging on that deal. “When I heard that there are clashes outside , I was very worried,” Amy Siu, a 37-year-old accountant taking part in the rally, said. “I’m worried about the youngsters’ safety. I hope they can be rational.”
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