The pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong that started in June show no signs of stopping. Over the weekend, authorities said Hong Kong police arrested two 13-year-old including a girl accused of burning a Chinese flag.
Protesters have continued their demonstrations across the city. They have gone trampling Chinese symbols including flags, clashing with Beijing supporters and vandalizing at subway stations and shopping malls. This is despite the withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill.
During the chaotic weekend, protesters threw bricks and fire bombs. Hong Kong police fired a series of tear gas and arrested two minors. At one point, authorities said protesters used “hard objects” to attack an office who was doing an arrest. To make matters worse, video footage showed some protesters assaulting at least two unarmed men.
On Saturday night, police arrested a 13-year-old accused of “desecrating the national flag” in Tuen Mun.
Local news stations showed footage of protesters stomping on a Chinese flag and spraying it with black paint and then dumping it in a river on Sunday. In an ordinance, anyone who is desecrating the Chinese flag in Hong Kong by “publicly and willfully burning, mutilating, scrawling on, defiling or trampling on it” will face a fine of nearly US$6,400 (S$8,800) and imprisonment for up to three years.
In Hong Kong, those 10 or older can be found guilty of committing crimes. But anyone below 14 can’t be sent to prison.
October 1 Holiday
On October 1, Beijing will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China under the Communist Party, and it doesn’t want anything to ruin the occasion. However, protesters have a different plan in mind. They will welcome the holiday with protests in an attempt to pressure the local government to meet their demands for political reforms, police accountability and universal suffrage.
Related: About Hong Kong Protest, Firms Relocate to Singapore
