With thousands of protesters now marching from Causeway Bay, a parallel protest at Hong Kong’s Legislative Council building, one that began with early morning fireworks between police and demonstrators, remains the site of a tense standoff.
While protesters are currently backing away from the front doors of the city’s parliament, within the past hour or so, a small group had repeatedly rammed them with a large metal cart, as a large contingent of police in riot gear waited inside. A New York Times video of that can be seen here.
Red Flag and police inside LegCo mask on #AntiELAB #ExtraditionBill #Hongkong pic.twitter.com/n9HgreepYc
— Galileo Cheng (@galileocheng) July 1, 2019
A number of pro-democratic lawmakers attempted to intercede, pleading with police inside to allow them to calm the protesters, something they attempted with little efficacy.
Lawmaker continuing to ask police not to come out. Lady next to him got on her knees, he told her to get up as “you don’t need to beg”. She said if either side charges then everyone’s lost. #antiELAB pic.twitter.com/uRi0QK8olc
— Laurel Chor (@laurelchor) July 1, 2019
Indeed, at one point, a lawmaker who stepped between the protesters and pleaded with them to stop their attempts to break through the door was tackled out of the way by a man wearing a mask.
Some of the more radical protesters are storming the Legco now despite pro-democracy lawmakers' effort to stop them. Legislator Leung Yiu-chung was tackled on the floor pic.twitter.com/nclAI2RqWO
— Chris Lau (@hkchrislau) July 1, 2019
Aware of the tense standoff at LegCo, march organizers the Civil Human Rights Front, meanwhile, have called an audible, asking marchers to avoid the government offices altogether and end their route at Chater Road. They added that those who wish to head toward the legislative building should be prepared to look after their own safety.
Crowd moving very slowly on #HongKong's Hennessy Rd. as fellow protesters join from side streets. Loudspeaker messages reminding people about tomorrow's voter registration deadline for next year's LegCo elections. #NoChinaExtradition #HongKongProtests #反送中 #AntiELAB pic.twitter.com/PJ2qr8Gp1P
— Coconuts Hong Kong (@CoconutsHK) July 1, 2019
Current view from Yee Wo Street in Causeway Bay. Smaller groups of protesters joining from side streets along the way. Crowd chanting "withdraw the bill." #NoChinaExtradition #HongKongProtests #反送中 #AntiELAB #HongKong pic.twitter.com/8sNOweWcgn
— Coconuts Hong Kong (@CoconutsHK) July 1, 2019
Early this morning, clashes between protesters and police had seen police employ pepper spray.
A bit later, at ceremonies celebrating Hong Kong’s 1997 return to China, Carrie Lam once again pledged to “learn the lesson” of recent protests driven by antipathy to controversial extradition legislation with the mainland, saying she would meet more with opposition parties and “young people of different backgrounds.”
Once again, however, she failed to offer any give on the key points driving protesters, who are demanding the bill’s official withdrawal and the release of protesters arrested in recent weeks.
Events on the ground will likely continue to change quickly. You can follow the Coconuts Hong Kong team on Twitter @CoconutsHK.
"Escape route." Harcourt Road an Rodney Street protest site. pic.twitter.com/mxOE8bfyIg
— Mary Hui (@maryhui) July 1, 2019
