Hong Kong police in riot gear fired tear gas at protesters after demonstrators smashed their way into the government's main chamber. BillNeelyNBC reports from Hong Kong.
HONG KONG — Police in riot gear retook Hong Kong's legislative building Monday after demonstrators smashed their way in, storming the main chamber, spraying graffiti on the walls and hoisting the flag that the city used before it was governed by China.
The protesters, many wearing hardhats or carrying umbrellas, spray painted slogans on chamber walls such as:"Carrie Lam step down,""No extradition to China" and"Release the righteous" protesters who have been arrested.By this point most of the protesters had left the legislative chambers, with people chanting inside “leave together.” Only four were remaining inside as the clock hit midnight.
The activists are calling for the total withdrawal of a proposed law that would allow suspected criminals to be extradited from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland. The city was supposed to retain its own political and economic system after leaving U.K. rule. Critics say the law is part of attempts by Beijing to erode those freedoms, edging Hong Kong toward China's political and legal system,British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Monday, declaring that Hong Kong's former rulers are"unwavering" in their support of democracy while also saying"no violence is acceptable.
Protesters smash glass doors and windows of the Legislative Council Complex on July 1, 2019 in Hong Kong.The government indefinitely suspended it after the protests and Lam apologized. But this has not satisfied the protesters, who want the bill to be scrapped for good and for Lam to resign. Another, Lindsey, 21, also declining to give her full name, said,"It's tiring, but this is the only thing we can do." She added,"If we don’t come out, we never know if we will have the chance again in the future."
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