Showdown as police surround Hong Kong protesters at ‘Civic Square’ after New Year’s Day march
Organisers say 10,000 took to the streets in protest against contentious joint checkpoint plan for city’s cross-border rail link to mainland China
A New Year’s Day pro-democracy march by thousands of demonstrators ended in scuffles and a defiant stand-off with police at the newly reopened “Civic Square” protest site outside Hong Kong’s government headquarters.
Organisers said 10,000 took to the streets on Monday to voice their concerns over what they see as campaign by Beijing to reduce Hong Kong’s autonomy through a series of contentious moves. Police put the rally turnout at a more conservative 6,200.
The protesters made their way from Wan Chai to the government compound in nearby Admiralty, where the otherwise peaceful march became unruly as police officers surrounded demonstrators outside the East Wing Forecourt, popularly known as “Civic Square”.
“Protect Hong Kong,” the protesters chanted as they stopped on Tim Mei Avenue outside the square on Monday before about 200 of them went in. They had been permitted to use the area until 6.30pm.