Hundreds of protesters in stand-off with Hong Kong police as waterfront site earmarked for People’s Liberation Army dock is cleared of small crowd

Group, led by opposition lawmaker Eddie Chu, was protesting against government’s move to give 0.3-hectare strip of land to PLA garrison

Riot police moved crowd and journalists from site but made no arrests

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Protesters leave signs on the fence of the restricted site. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 1:12am, 29 Jun 2019Updated: 3:09am, 29 Jun 2019

Riot police cleared a restricted site on the central Hong Kong waterfront that was briefly occupied by a small group of protesters late on Friday, just minutes before the area was designated a dock of the People’s Liberation Army’s garrison at midnight.

The group, led by opposition lawmaker Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, was protesting against the government’s move to hand over the prime 0.3-hectare strip of land to the PLA Hong Kong garrison. The action was the latest protest organised online and followed on the heels of a series of anti-extradition bill rallies in the city.

Riot police moved the crowd and journalists from the site but made no arrests. Hundreds of protesters were locked in a stand-off with dozens of police officers about five metres (5½ yards) from the site.

Chu – who later vowed to return on Saturday morning – acknowledged their act to enter the site could have legal repercussions but said he was not sure about the consequences.

Police officers with riot shields guard the site after clearing the protesters. Photo: Dickson Lee

“If we can’t protect this waterfront in the heart of Hong Kong how can we protect Hong Kong?” Chu said.