Hong Kong protests: General strike brings city to standstill
Hong Kong was brought to a standstill today by a general strike and protests targeting the transport system as the city continued to be rocked by protests which began two months ago.
Read more: Protestors face tear gas as Hong Kong prepares for a general strike
The city’s Beijing-backed leader Carrie Lam spoke to the media for the first time in two weeks, saying Hong Kong was on “the verge of a very dangerous situation”.
Tens of thousands of protestors spread across the city, once again sparking violent clashes with riot police which saw tear gas fired at the demonstrators.
Lam said: “These illegal acts that challenge our country’s sovereignty, and jeopardise ‘one country two systems’, will destroy the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.”
The Chinese region of Hong Kong has been allowed its own economic and governmental system since it became independent from the UK in 1997.
Protests in the city began in June in response to a bill that would have meant citizens could be extradited to mainland China for trial.
“These actions have far exceeded their original political demands,” Lam said today. “They claim they want a revolution and to restore Hong Kong.”
She refused to fulfil a key protestor demand and resign as chief executive of the city.
Protestors caused chaos by disrupting busy transport routes in the morning and targeting the city’s airport.
Many train and bus services were suspended, some due to demonstrators holding open carriage doors so trains could not move. More than 200 flights were cancelled.
China’s South China Morning Post newspaper reported that Beijing is set to announce “something new” for Hong Kong tomorrow.
The Chinese government has repeatedly condemned violent protests and called for law and order to be restored in the administrative area.
But protesters have accused police of using unnecessary force and criticised the use of tear gas and rubber bullets in dispersing crowds.
Read more: Chinese army in Hong Kong releases anti-protest video
Over 400 people have been arrested in connection with the protests since 9 June, authorities said. The police force said it has fired 1,000 rounds of tear gas and around 160 rubber bullets.