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Rabu, 02 Oktober 2019

UK Brexit plans to include customs checks on island of Ireland - BBC News

The government's final Brexit proposals will include customs checks on the island of Ireland.

The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said Boris Johnson's plans will see Northern Ireland "in a different relationship with the EU to the rest of the UK".

Boris Johnson is addressing the Tory conference before submitting the new proposals to the EU.

The European Commission said they will "examine it objectively" and "listen carefully to the UK".

The Commission's president, Jean-Claude Juncker will talk to the PM on the phone later, while negotiating teams will meet in Brussels.

In his first speech at the event as prime minister, he will call it a "fair and reasonable" Brexit compromise, and say only by leaving the EU on 31 October can the UK "move on".

Mr Johnson will also claim the public will no longer be "taken for fools" by those who want to delay or block the process.

Tory Chairman James Cleverly said the UK had been "flexible and pragmatic", and now the EU must be the same.

On the eve of his speech, Mr Johnson told a conference fringe meeting in Manchester, hosted by the DUP, that he hoped to reach a deal with the EU over the course of "the next few days".

The government has insisted it will not negotiate a further delay beyond the Halloween deadline, saying this would be unnecessary and costly for the UK.

However, under the terms of a law passed by Parliament last month, the PM faces having to request another extension unless MPs back the terms of withdrawal by 19 October - two days after a summit of European leaders.

On Tuesday, Mr Johnson dismissed leaked reports that customs posts could be set up on either side of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

He said suggestions the UK wanted "clearance zones" for goods as part of a package of alternative arrangements to replace the Irish backstop were wide of the mark.

While he conceded some customs checks would be needed as the UK leaves the EU's customs union and single market, he said technology could keep them to an "absolute minimum".

What is in the proposals?

The issue of the Irish border - and how to keep it free from border checks when it becomes the frontier between the UK and the EU - has been a key sticking point in Brexit negotiations.

Mr Johnson says the solution reached by the EU and Theresa May, the backstop, is "anti-democratic" and "inconsistent with the sovereignty of the UK", claiming it offered no means for the UK to unilaterally exit and no say for the people of Northern Ireland over the rules that would apply there.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the new offer from Mr Johnson included some new customs checks on the island of Ireland, and would leave Northern Ireland in a different relationship with the EU to the rest of the UK in some ways.

She said the plans were "based on the notion of consent", giving more powers to Northern Ireland's devolved Parliament - the Stormont Assembly - to shape its future relationship with the EU - despite the fact the assembly is approaching 1,000 days without sitting.

The proposals also suggest a time period for when the relationship between Northern Ireland and the EU could move on.

But the full and precise details of Mr Johnson's plan twill not be clear until after the prime minister's speech at conference.

Will the EU agree to the plans?

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme earlier, Mr Cleverly appeared to put the ball in the EU's court.

"We have been in negotiating for some while," he said. "The UK has been flexible, but a negotiation means both parties need to be flexible.

"What we need to see now is the EU be flexible - and if they can be pragmatic and flexible, we can leave with a deal on 31 October. But we are going to leave on 31 October whatever."

Irish Fine Gael senator Neale Richmond told Today that the PM's plans were a "big move" from the withdrawal agreement made by Theresa May.

Mr Richmond said, under the plan, Northern Ireland would leave the customs union and "come out of the single market in all areas, apart from agri-food products and industrial products, and indeed it only stays in those areas for four years".

This, he added, would require "additional checks" on the island of Ireland - something he described as "extremely disappointing".

Laura Kuenssberg said there was a "real expectation and belief" in No 10 that "this is now the crunch point".

She said: "This is the moment…where the EU will have to respond and say [either] there is something that is a basis of a deal here, or not.

"And what Boris Johnson is trying to suggest is if the answer is not, then for him, that means no-deal."

The EU needs to see the precise details of Boris Johnson's proposals, but the direction of travel that has been coming through is different.

The very idea of customs check between Ireland and Northern Ireland, the promise of the use of technologies to ease the process that haven't yet been tried and tested, or don't even exist yet…that is a big no-no for the EU.

The bloc will look at the proposals carefully. They need to try as they do want a deal, and also they need to be seen to be trying.

But it is fundamentally misunderstanding the EU if the prime minister thinks at this stage the 26 EU leaders will turn round on the Irish prime minister and say: "Listen, you are going to have to accept this because we just want to have a deal."

It is also fundamentally misunderstanding the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, her attachment to EU unity and the integrity of the single market.

And also it is misunderstanding that the EU sees this in a bigger picture. If suddenly now they were to back down to all of the prime minister's demands how would that look to other trade partners across the globe.

So EU leaders will be very careful not to rubbish the prime minister's ideas, to talk about them as a basis for an agreement, but if it is take it or leave it, they will be leaving at this point.

Will MPs agree?

BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said it was particularly important Mr Johnson secured the support of the Democratic Unionist Party's 10 MPs.

He said: "I think it is very clear this deal is not going to fly unless Boris Johnson can bring the DUP along with him... one way or another he has to make sure they're on board."

BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said sources from the DUP were supportive of the proposals and had been kept informed during their development.

However, the party's leader, Arlene Foster, declined to say whether she had seen the PM's proposals.

She told the BBC: "What we are doing with this prime minister is working very closely with him and we will continue to work closely with him over the next couple of hours and days.

"I hope we do get a deal that is acceptable to the European Union and one that is good for the whole of the United Kingdom."

What is Mr Johnson going to say at conference?

Speaking in Manchester, Mr Johnson will suggest voters are "desperate" for the country to focus on other priorities and will contrast his determination to leave on 31 October with the "years of uncertainty" that he says would result from a Labour government promising another referendum.

"What people want, what Leavers want, what Remainers want, what the whole world wants - is to move on," he is expected to say.

"I am afraid that after three-and-a-half years people are beginning to feel that they are being taken for fools.

"They are beginning to suspect that there are forces in this country that simply don't want Brexit delivered at all.

"And if they turn out to be right in that suspicion then I believe there will be grave consequences for trust in democracy.

"Let's get Brexit done on October 31 so in 2020 our country can move on."

Mr Johnson's conference speech is set to clash with Prime Minister's Questions, which is taking place at 12.00 BST.

Normally the Commons goes into recess for the Tory conference, but MPs voted against this amid the bitter fallout from the government's unlawful prorogation of Parliament.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will deputise for the prime minister, facing the shadow home secretary Diane Abbott over the despatch box.

Do you have any questions about Brexit?

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49894100

2019-10-02 09:38:22Z
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Anger Grows in Hong Kong Over Shooting of Teenage Protester - The New York Times

HONG KONG — Raw anger was building in Hong Kong on Wednesday over the shooting of a teenage demonstrator a day earlier, the first such incident since antigovernment demonstrations began in the territory nearly four months ago.

The shooting of the teenager came on a day of intense clashes across Hong Kong between protesters and the police, and hours after China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, presided over a carefully choreographed military parade in Beijing to celebrate 70 years of Communist rule.

The question now is whether the shooting will further incite a protest movement that was already seething with grievances, and which has been driven by young people who see the city’s pro-Beijing leaders as illegitimate.

In an early sign of anger over the shooting, a Wednesday morning meeting between administrators at the teenager’s high school and more than 100 of its alumni quickly devolved into a bitter confrontation. Many of the former students cried, shouted questions and asked why the administrators had not condemned the police officer who shot the student.

“Can you see how many people are crying here?” one woman pleaded.

But others suggested the school take action against the student for his conduct in the protests, including Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong’s former chief executive.

The Hong Kong Police Force said on Tuesday evening that the protester was an 18-year-old who had been shot in the left shoulder, and that he was conscious as he was taken to the hospital for surgery.

Left, a protester in Hong Kong on Tuesday seen minutes before he was shot by a police officer. Right, the same protester just after being shot. — CreditJasmine Leung/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images; The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Students' Union

In a video circulating online that appears to show the shooting, the protester is first seen joining a mob of black-clad people who chase a riot officer and tackle him to the ground. They kick him and beat him with what appear to be pipes.

A few seconds later, the protester approaches a second police officer who is nearby with a handgun drawn. Just after the protester hits the officer with the pole, the officer fires at the man at point-blank range.

Hours after the shooting, the Hong Kong police commissioner, Stephen Lo, said the officer who shot the protester had acted in a “legal and reasonable” manner, having given a verbal warning before opening fire.

The officer had been assaulted at close quarters, Mr. Lo said, and had no other choice but to shoot. “The range was not determined by the police officer, but by the perpetrator,” he said.

But the Hong Kong Public Doctors’ Association, which represents doctors working in public hospitals and medical departments at the University of Hong Kong, condemned the officer on Tuesday for not using a less powerful weapon, such as a rifle that shoots beanbag rounds, to subdue the protester.

115 Days of Hong Kong Protests. How Did We Get Here?

The protests started as peaceful marches and rallies against an unpopular bill. Then came dozens of rounds of tear gas and a government that refused to back down.

In a statement on Wednesday morning, the protester’s high school, Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College, said that faculty members and the student body “all feel very sad and worried” about the shooting. The school’s administration had opened a crisis management unit that includes psychologists and social workers to help students cope, the statement said.

Mr. Lo, the police commissioner, told reporters at an overnight news conference that the police had arrested the protester who was shot, but that the force would decide later whether to press charges. At the meeting with the alumni on Wednesday, the school's principal and vice principal said that the student would not be punished and would keep his place in the school.

The principal, Tse Yun Ming, lowered his gaze as he absorbed an onslaught of criticism from the former students.

“My emotions are also fluctuating,” he told them at one point.

Image

CreditJerome Favre/EPA, via Shutterstock

But Mr. Leung, the city’s former chief executive, criticized the student’s conduct. “Could you not directly denounce his wrongdoing,” he asked in a Facebook post, suggesting that before being shot the student “surrounded and beat the police on the streets in full gear along with other rioters.”

Sit-in protests were expected Wednesday afternoon in at least seven Hong Kong districts, including in Tsuen Wan, where the shooting occurred. Tsuen Wan is a working-class district miles from the gleaming skyscrapers of the city’s financial district.

Protests Erupt in Hong Kong, Overshadowing China’s National Day Parade

Oct. 1, 2019

Why Are People Protesting in Hong Kong?

Aug. 8, 2019

Ezra Cheung and Tiffany May contributed reporting.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/world/asia/hong-kong-shooting-protests.html

2019-10-02 11:39:00Z
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Boris Johnson presses U.K. elections as Brexit endgame nears - NBC News

LONDON — When Boris Johnson takes the stage Wednesday at the Conservative Party Conference, an annual get-together at which activists and lawmakers debate policy, chitchat and buy memorabilia, he will stand in front of banners proclaiming a three-word policy: “Get Brexit Done.”

He may wish it was that simple.

With the Brexit deadline set for Oct. 31, it’s still unclear whether the United Kingdom will leave the European Union on time, or at all. The seemingly never-ending divorce has become mired in furious debate and legal battles.

Oct. 2, 201900:35

All of which means the U.K. is highly likely to face an election, and soon.

U.K. elections are supposed to happen every five years but Johnson can call for one at any point — as long as two-thirds of lawmakers in the House of Commons vote in favor.

Johnson has already failed to trigger an election several times, but one could also take place if the prime minister loses a vote of confidence, which has long been threatened by opposition members of Parliament.

It’s set to be a turbulent and fractious occasion in which the prime minister pitches himself against Parliament and lawmakers who would “surrender” to the E.U. as U.K. politics continues to borrow tactics and tone from President Donald Trump.

The Brexit debate illustrates how U.K. politics continues to ape the partisan nature of U.S. politics and the aggressive sloganeering of President Donald Trump, according to Simon Usherwood, a politics professor at the University of Surrey.

Sept. 25, 201901:54

“It’s not just Trump, it feels a very American style, the way the debate has been over the past decade or more, with echoes of culture wars and people being entrenched deep in their bubbles and speaking to their base rather than reaching out,” he said.

“Trump’s willingness to shout down opponents and question their motives and accuracy and everything else about them — I don’t think we’ve quite got to that stage, but the happiness of No. 10 to just keep on arguing [with their rivals] I think is quite striking,” he said, using shorthand to describe the prime minister’s official residence.

At the moment, Johnson’s government is achieving very little.

The prime minister attempted to suspend Parliament for five weeks, only for the U.K.’s highest court to rule he had done so illegally, misleading the Queen in the process.

And he may not be able to make Brexit happen at all, at least not this year: Parliament has already passed a law forcing Johnson to ask the E.U. for a third extension to the Brexit process, keeping the U.K. inside the bloc until at least Jan. 31.

To the dismay of lawmakers who accuse him of using inflammatory language, Johnson calls the law a “surrender bill” as it removes the threat of a “no-deal” Brexit in which the country leaves without a divorce deal, something Brexiteers see as key to forcing concessions from the E.U.

In a fiery debate last week in the House of Commons, Johnson was condemned by lawmakers for his incendiary language, such as repeatedly accusing lawmakers of “sabotaging” the U.K.’s exit from the E.U.

A visibly upset Labour lawmaker, Paula Sherriff, told Johnson: "We're subject to death threats and abuse every single day. And let me tell the prime minister that they often quote his words: 'surrender act,' 'betrayal,' 'traitor.'"

Johnson dismissed her out of hand.

"I've never heard such humbug in all my life," he said, essentially accusing Sherriff of being deceptive.

Johnson also brushed away reminders that lawmaker Jo Cox was stabbed and shot to death a week before the 2016 Brexit referendum by a far-right attacker shouting "Death to traitors!"

“The people outside this house understand what is happening,” he said. “The leader of the opposition and his party don’t trust the people.”

The Scottish National Party legislator Joanna Cherry, whose legal challenge in the Supreme Court ended Johson’s suspension of Parliament, said the House of Commons had been “treated to the sort of populist rant one expects to hear from a tin-pot dictatorship.”

John Bercow, the Commons speaker, who will step down later this year, said the atmosphere during the debate was “worse than any I've known in my 22 years in the House.”

None of these admonitions appear to have had an effect on Johnson, who is intent on delivering Brexit to his Conservative Party base.

But as he has no majority in the House of Commons, meaning he can’t force through any new laws or change old ones — that also means he can’t currently get a Brexit bill through Parliament, a necessary step before the U.K. leaves.

A second Brexit referendum at this point seems unlikely, so the road ahead leads to an election. But it’s laden with risk.

“The danger in the Conservatives choosing that option [a people versus Parliament election] is it’s been flagged well in advance so it gives opponents more time to think of ways to counteract it or take the edge off,” Usherwood said.

“There’s this assumption there’s this big master plan, a big diagram somewhere in No. 10, but it doesn’t really have the feel of this is how it was supposed to be. That doesn’t look like a master plan. It looks a bit more improvised and panicky.”

A 1950 poster for the Ulster Unionist Party.The Conservative Party Archive / Getty Images file

In previous elections, Britain has seen the Conservative Party going head-to-head with the opposition Labour Party — a classic left-versus-right battle pitching a strong privately-owned economy against state intervention and higher spending.

Voters may next head to the polls with Johnson’s strident anti-establishment messaging about Brexit ringing loudest in their ears.

This isn’t the first time an election has been focused on the popular will versus elected officials.

“The language of the people against the government has quite a long history in our politics,” James Freeman, an expert in British political history, said.

“It’s not just the Labour Party attacking the government, or Johnson attacking Labour, it’s more about Parliament as an institution blocking Brexit,” he said.

“This idea that it’s a ‘Remainer Parliament,’ that’s new,” he added, referring to those who wanted to remain in the European Union.

As for the influence of Trump, Freeman pointed out that the phrase “Make Britain Great Again” was used by the Conservative Party as an election slogan more than once in the 20th century.

“Some of the people around [Johnson] are very familiar with why they think Trump has been successful, and probably there’s some crossover because Brexit happened before Trump got elected,” he said.

“National revival is a consistent theme in our politics, particularly on the Conservative side.”

It remains to be seen whether Johnson will find a way to make Brexit happen — but the effect of Brexit on any forthcoming election, and British politics and society at large, is inescapable.

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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/boris-johnson-presses-u-k-elections-brexit-endgame-nears-n1061076

2019-10-02 08:07:00Z
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Meghan Markle's Recent Instagram Post Has Women Confused About the Duchess's Feminist Status - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

The Sussex Instagram account has been the subject of controversy before. But recently, they shared a quote from a figure that’s been problematic to the feminist community. Meghan Markle has always been a staunch supporter of feminism, but now the public is confused about her stance. How could she quote a person with such antiquated ideas about women? The public figure Prince Harry and Markle choose to quote and the problems it’s caused might surprise you.

The Sussexes quoted the Dalai Lama on their Instagram

Meghan Markle smiles as she takes part in Heritage Day public holiday celebrations in the Bo Kaap district of Cape Town, during the royal tour of South Africa. — Meghan Markle | Toby Melville – Pool/Getty Images

Earlier this month, the Sussexes shared a Dalai Lama quote on their official Instagram account. The quote read: “I believe that at every level of society — familial, tribal, national and international — the key to a happier and most successful world is the growth of compassion.”

This isn’t the only time Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have shown support for the Buddhist leader. At their wedding in 2018, the couple wanted the Dalai Lama to deliver the sermon. However, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who married them, denied their request because the Dalai Lama isn’t Christian. Instead, they settled on American Bishop Michael Curry.

According to the Daily Mail, Markle, who is a known yoga devotee, is fond of a Dalai Lama quote: “Don’t let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” And since marrying Markle, Prince Harry revealed that he’s fond of meditation, one of the key components of the Buddhist religion.

The Dalai Lama is often held up as a hero to those who advocate for social justice. This is similar to Markle’s reputation: She is sometimes referred to by critics as the “Woke Duchess” because of her fondness for social justice issues.

For example, when Markle acted as the guest editor for the September issue of Vogue, she toed the line royal tradition by pushing issues like feminism and global warming. Markle was accused of “wading into politics by promoting Trump-hating celebs” in her “left-wing” edition of Vogue. But that’s not the only reason the Dalai Lama has become a problem for the Duchess of Sussex.

The Dalai Lama thinks a female successor would need to be ‘attractive’

In 2015, the Dalai Lama made comments that surprised and angered feminists. He stated that if he was to have a female successor, she would need to be “very attractive” or she would be of “not much use.”

Recently, a BBC reporter challenged him on that comment, but the Dalai Lama stuck to his original statement. “If a female Dalai Lama comes, she should be more attractive,” he said while laughing.

According to the Dalai Lama, in Buddhist literature, both inner and outer beauty matter. But he stressed that equality is still important, and stated that he supports both women’s right and equal pay in the workforce.

Markle has long considered herself a feminist. As a child, she fought against sexist advertising by Procter & Gamble. A TV commercial for Ivory soap caught her attention at the age of 11 when she thought it implied that only women should do the dishes. She wrote letters expressing her concern, and a few months later, the advertisements were changed to be more gender-inclusive.

She continues to promote feminism today with charities like Smart Works, which provides clothing to women for job interviews. Considering that the duchess is such a stout feminist, how can she continue to support the Dalai Lama after his comments implying that a woman is not valuable unless she’s beautiful?

Is Meghan Markle still a feminist after supporting the Dalai Lama?

View this post on Instagram

Spotlight on: Smart Works We are proud to be supporting a very special initiative this autumn for @SmartWorksCharity! After quiet visits to Smartworks over the last year, The Duchess was moved by the impactful work being done by this non profit organisation that helps women into the workforce, equipping them with both the skills and clothes they need to feel job-ready. Throughout her visits she noticed that while the donations were plentiful, they were also notably a combination of mismatched items and colours which weren’t always the right stylistic choices or sizes that didn’t necessarily “suit” the job at hand: to make a woman feel confident and inspired as she walked into her job interview. As a result, launching this autumn, The Duchess will be supporting a collective to help equip the women of Smart Works with the key workwear essentials they need as they enter into the workplace. This initiative is supported by four generous brands who share the vision to empower the women of Smart Works to look and feel as they bravely venture in to what can often be a daunting environment for those who have been out of the job market. The brands have come together to work towards this united force for good, “[reframing] the idea of charity as community,” as The Duchess writes in a piece for this month’s British Vogue. They will follow the 1:1 model where an item from the collection purchased is an item shared with a woman of Smart Works because “not only does this allow us to be part of each other’s story; it reminds us we are in it together.” For more information on how you can be part of another woman’s success story visit @smartworkscharity. Special thanks to: @JohnLewisandPartners, @MarksandSpencer, @MishaNonoo, @InsideJigsaw for supporting this very special organisation. And to find out more, read the September issue of @BritishVogue and stay tuned for more exciting updates this autumn. Photo©️SussexRoyal

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Jul 31, 2019 at 9:03am PDT

Markle hasn’t responded to the Dalai Lama’s comments about women, so we’re not sure of her thoughts on the matter, or if she’s even aware of the issue. But others have found even more reasons to criticize Markle usage of the quote.

Piers Morgan, a long-time critic of Markle, called her a hypocrite for choosing the quote which focused on compassion. According to Morgan, Markle needs to focus on her own house first before lecturing others on compassion. Meaning, she should reach out to her estranged family and friends to offer them compassion before telling the rest of the world what to do.

Others have found reasons to criticize Markle’s support of feminism altogether. Pushing the idea of feminism on the public, while in a role she obtained purely by marriage to a man who earned his position from birth, could be considered hypocritical. Markle considers herself a feminist, but many disagree with this categorization because of her role.

Unfortunately, as hard as Markle tries, almost everything she does is taken badly by the public. Although, her main problem seems to be her need to lecture and push political agendas in the first place. When the public pays for your lifestyle, it’s never a good idea to try to force ideas or lecture the people.

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2019-10-02 08:03:37Z
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Anger Grows in Hong Kong Over Shooting of Teenage Protester - The New York Times

“Can you see how many people are crying here?” one woman pleaded.

But others suggested the school take action against the student for his conduct in the protests, including Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong’s former chief executive.

The Hong Kong Police Force said on Tuesday evening that the protester was an 18-year-old who had been shot in the left shoulder, and that he was conscious as he was taken to the hospital for surgery.

The officer had been assaulted at close quarters, Mr. Lo said, and had no other choice but to shoot. “The range was not determined by the police officer, but by the perpetrator,” he said.

115 Days of Hong Kong Protests. How Did We Get Here?

The protests started as peaceful marches and rallies against an unpopular bill. Then came dozens of rounds of tear gas and a government that refused to back down.

The principal, Tse Yun Ming, lowered his gaze as he absorbed an onslaught of criticism from the former students.

“My emotions are also fluctuating,” he told them at one point.

Image

CreditJerome Favre/EPA, via Shutterstock

Protests Erupt in Hong Kong, Overshadowing China’s National Day Parade

Oct. 1, 2019

Why Are People Protesting in Hong Kong?

Aug. 8, 2019

Ezra Cheung and Tiffany May contributed reporting.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/world/asia/hong-kong-shooting-protests.html

2019-10-02 07:27:00Z
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Anger Grows in Hong Kong Over Shooting of Teenage Protester - The New York Times

“Can you see how many people are crying here?” one woman pleaded.

But others suggested the school take action against the student for his conduct in the protests, including Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong’s former chief executive.

The Hong Kong Police Force said on Tuesday evening that the protester was an 18-year-old who had been shot in the left shoulder, and that he was conscious as he was taken to the hospital for surgery.

The officer had been assaulted at close quarters, Mr. Lo said, and had no other choice but to shoot. “The range was not determined by the police officer, but by the perpetrator,” he said.

115 Days of Hong Kong Protests. How Did We Get Here?

The protests started as peaceful marches and rallies against an unpopular bill. Then came dozens of rounds of tear gas and a government that refused to back down.

The principal, Tse Yun Ming, lowered his gaze as he absorbed an onslaught of criticism from the former students.

“My emotions are also fluctuating,” he told them at one point.

Image

CreditJerome Favre/EPA, via Shutterstock

Sit-in protests were expected Wednesday afternoon in at least seven Hong Kong districts, including in Tseun Wan, where the shooting occurred. Tsuen Wan is a working-class district miles from the gleaming skyscrapers of the city’s financial district.

Protests Erupt in Hong Kong, Overshadowing China’s National Day Parade

Oct. 1, 2019

Why Are People Protesting in Hong Kong?

Aug. 8, 2019

Ezra Cheung and Tiffany May contributed reporting.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/world/asia/hong-kong-shooting-protests.html

2019-10-02 05:51:00Z
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Selasa, 01 Oktober 2019

Hong Kong protester shot in the chest by police during clashes - Aljazeera.com

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.

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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

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2019-10-01 12:15:00Z
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