A pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong that attracted tens of thousands of people has ended in clashes with police. Organisers had planned the New Year’s Day march as a way to maintain the momentum built up over the past nine months for reforms in the city, which is mired in the biggest political crisis on Chinese soil in decades.
Jimmy Sham, convener of Hong Kong’s Civil Human Rights Front, which organised the rally, said the event was to be a demonstration of solidarity and persistence. “We walk together and never forget those who were suppressed . . . we will never forget our original intention,” added Mr Sham.
But after a series of violent skirmishes — including one where demonstrators smashed windows and destroyed cash dispensers at an HSBC branch — the police ordered Mr Sham’s group to clear the streets at 5.30pm local time. At that stage several thousand protesters were still waiting to join the march.