French 'Spiderman' Alain Robert travels to Hong Kong and climbs tower to unfurl banner pleading for peace

Asher McShane16 August 2019

French "Spiderman" freeclimber Alain Robert, who stunned London by scaling the Heron Tower bare-handed, has climbed a 68-storey Hong Kong skyscraper to plead for peace in the region.

Mr Robert unfurled a giant banner aimed at promoting reconciliation between China and the territory as weeks of escalating pro-democracy protests show no signs of abating.

He clambered up Cheung Kong Center located in the central business district and secured a large banner on the building's exterior.

Alain Robert: French 'Spiderman' climbs Cheung Kong Center

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The sign shows China's flag in the left hand corner with Hong Kong's flag on the right side. Underneath was a yellow hand shaking a red hand on a white background to signify peace.

The climb comes as more mass demonstrations are expected through the weekend, with China massing troops on the border with Shenzhen in a show of might.

China has likened the protests to terrorism and warned it could use force to quell them. US President Donald Trump urged President Xi Jinping to meet with protesters to defuse weeks of tension.

French urban climber Alain Robert climbs the Cheung Kong Center building in Hong Kong (REUTERS)
Reuters

It is the third time Mr Robert has climbed the Center, which is owned by Cheung Kong Holdings.

He was banned from climbing buildings in the former British colony for a year last August. His ban ended two weeks ago.

Mr Robert also scaled the Shard in London recently
AP

Dressed in bright hues of purple, pink and green, Robert was arrested after the climb and taken to a nearby police station.

He often climbs without permission and has been arrested several times, sometimes for trespassing.

Li Ka Shing, whose family owns the Cheung Kong Centre, published a series of advertisements in Hong Kong's major newspapers on Friday urging people to stop the violence.

Ten weeks of confrontations between police and protesters have plunged Hong Kong into its worst crisis since it reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, and have presented the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jingping since he came to power in 2012.

The protests began in opposition to a now-suspended bill that would have allowed the extradition of suspects for trial in mainland China, but have swelled into wider calls for democracy.

More than 700 people have been arrested since the protests began in June, and tear gas has frequently been used by police in attempts to disperse protests across the city.

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