A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester has been shot in the chest after a police officer opened live fire during clashes on Tuesday, as China celebrated the 70th anniversary of the communist-led government in Beijing.
The incident was the first time a protester has been shot, in an escalation of the months-long unrest that has rocked the city.
Local media said that the prostester is in "critical condition".
A video of the incident, shot by the City University Student Union and shared on social media, showed a dozen black-clad protesters hurling objects at a group of riot police pursuing them. Television channels also showed footages of the incident.
In the video, one officer, who is surrounded, draws his revolver and points it at the group. He fires and one protester collapses on the street while others flee.
During the day, protesters spray-painted slogans aiming at the government, such as "Topple the Commies" and "Communist China, go to hell," before street battles broke out in several neighbourhoods across the city, including ones near the government office headquarters.
Riot police repelled mobs of protesters with round after round of tear gas bombs, the stinging smell was thick in the air. A smattering of protesters hit back with Molotov cocktails, but most huddled behind a patchwork shield of umbrellas in non-violent self-defense.
In one neighbourhood far from downtown, the police fired at least one other live around into the air.
Over the past 16 weeks, Hong Kong has been in the throes of anti-government protests - triggered by a proposed bill that would have allowed the extradition of accused individuals to the mainland for trial - that have since morphed into a wider movement for democracy.
Demonstrators are also demanding an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality in suppressing the protests, blanket amnesty for all those charged with offences stemming from participating in demonstrations, and a retraction of police claims that protesters are guilty of rioting - a charge that carries a heavy prison sentence.
The protesters also want to be able to elect Hong Kong's top leader and all its legislators.
'Not feeling Chinese'
A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 under a 'one country, two systems' framework, which guaranteed Hong Kong people rights and freedoms largely absent in mainland China.
However, in recent years, critics say Beijing has increasingly interfered in the territory and resentments have bubbled to the surface.
In some neighbourhoods on Tuesday, demonstrators scattered paper offerings meant for the deceased in front of businesses operated by the Chinese government, such as China Travel Services.
Over the past 10 years, the number of Hong Kongers who took pride in being Chinese has gone down significantly, according to a survey conducted in June by the University of Hong Kong's Public Opinion Programme.
The survey showed a record high number of respondents describing themselves as Hong Kongers and a record low of those identifying themselves as Chinese citizens.
Among those under age 30, the percentage of respondents identifying as Chinese is in the single digits.
Additional reporting by Violet Law from Hong Kong
SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/hong-kong-protester-shot-chest-police-media-reports-191001104132362.html
2019-10-01 12:15:00Z
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