Protesters throw petrol bombs as Hong Kong violence persists
Anti-government protests in Hong Kong showed no signs of letting up today, as police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators throwing petrol bombs at government buildings.
Some protesters threw bricks at police outside a Chinese army base in the city, and set fire to a banner intended to celebrate the upcoming 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
“Radical protesters are currently occupying Harcourt Road in Admiralty [district], vandalising central government offices and repeatedly throwing petrol bombs inside,” police said.
Protesters employed cat-and-mouse tactics against police in the city’s streets, starting fires and blocking roads, while authorities tried to put out the blazes.
A heavy police presence was seen in and around subway stations. Rail operator MTR has become a major target of vandalism, after its move to close stations during protests to prevent demonstrators from gathering provoked anger among civilians.
Hong Kong’s Airport Authority said passenger numbers fell 12.4 per cent year-on-year last month to just six million, after activists occupied the airport arrivals hall, causing flights to be cancelled on several days in August.