Hong Kong protests: China warns activists 'the end is coming' as students boycott schools

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Benedict Moore-Bridger2 September 2019

Chinese state media today warned “the end is coming” for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters as students boycotted schools after another weekend of chaos gripped the city.

Riot police patrolled underground stations that have seen some of the ugliest clashes between demonstrators and officers during 13 weeks of unrest in the Beijing-ruled financial hub.

Yesterday, thousands of protesters blocked roads and public transport to Hong Kong International Airport, with police firing water cannons and tear gas as demonstrators burned barricades and hurled petrol bombs. On Saturday, riot police stormed a metro station, attacking protesters with batons.

In an editorial, the state-run Xinhua news agency condemned “flagrant violent acts” by protesters and said police “took decisive measures to enforce the law and stop the violence”.

The editorial added that “the end is coming for those attempting to disrupt Hong Kong”. China is understood to be eager to quell the unrest before the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1.

Fresh protests today saw hundreds of students rally outside the Chinese University of Hong Kong as the city braced itself for a two-day general strike.

One 19-year old student, identified only as Chan, said: “We should continue to fight for Hong Kong. These protests awaken me to care more about the society and care for the voiceless.”

Images on social media showed rows of teenagers lined up outside secondary schools holding banners. Many primary schools had already decided to close because of a typhoon warning.

In Kowloon, dozens of students stood outside a Christian secondary school, Ying Wa College, at 7am chanting: “Free Hong Kong! Democracy Now!”. The students, dressed in school uniforms, hardhats, masks and goggles, planned to boycott the term’s opening ceremony. At St Francis’ Canossian College, a girls’ school, pupils knelt in a line and held up signs that read: “The five major demands: Not one is dispensable.”

Protesters’ demands include dropping charges against demonstrators and formally withdrawing a bill that would allow Hong Kong residents to be extradited to mainland China to stand trial.

They also want greater autonomy for the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Despite the call for a general strike, many people appeared to be returning to their daily lives today. Some demonstrators disrupted the morning commute by blocking train doors, attempting to evade riot police by moving quickly between stations.

Airport authorities said 25 flights were cancelled yesterday but transport services were largely back to normal. After leaving the airport, some demonstrators ripped out turnstiles and smashed CCTV cameras at the metro station in Tung Chung. Police made several arrests.

Hong Kong Protests In Pictures

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