Hundreds of thousands marched again in Hong Kong on Monday to mark the 22nd anniversary of the territory’s handover to China and express continued opposition to proposed extradition rules that many fear would decisively undermine its remaining autonomy. At the same time, a smaller group of protesters gathered outside the seat of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, and eventually, despite pleas from pro-democracy lawmakers, broke in, vandalized it, and briefly occupied the LegCo chamber. From the main protest:
A sea of umbrellas marching through Causeway Bay at July 1st protest in Hong Kong pic.twitter.com/gy91L14eYy
— Catherine Lai (@catherinehslai) July 1, 2019
This family contributing to the march by picking up litter along the way. pic.twitter.com/sYAHnfjMDV
— Shelley Zhang (@shelzhang) July 1, 2019
Just did a livestream from the wan chai bridge. If anything it’s more crowded down in the protest now. pic.twitter.com/HMu83SPGdG
— Shelley Zhang (@shelzhang) July 1, 2019
While perhaps not as densely packed as the previous two marches, be in no doubt this march is still HUGE. pic.twitter.com/juZWS0Gn6N
— Antony Dapiran (@antd) July 1, 2019
Away from the tension at Legco, the atmosphere in Wan Chai feels more like the usual July 1 marches, with a variety of political groups and NGOs fundraising and promoting their cause, including a couple selling homebrewed herbal tea pic.twitter.com/9aLNVVshz7
— Catherine Lai (@catherinehslai) July 1, 2019
These guys probably weren’t paying attention to breaking into LegCo for example. pic.twitter.com/nhk2ga5oYq
— Shelley Zhang (@shelzhang) July 1, 2019
Protest march is still coming and still huge pic.twitter.com/f075w0FauI
— Antony Dapiran (@antd) July 1, 2019
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets today in Hong Kong pic.twitter.com/ojb6pDAjB1
— SCMP News (@SCMPNews) July 1, 2019
Others on Twitter tracked the events away from the main march:
Protesters gathered outside LegCo on the eve of the July 1 handover anniversary chanted “Hong Kong people, add oil” at an otherwise sombre and quiet rally.
“I hope one day we can all take off our masks and meet each other,” someone with a loudspeaker said. pic.twitter.com/dpeKj2Nbut
— Elaine Yu (@yuenok) June 30, 2019
Bricks being dug out of the road protesters wheeling them to the front of the blockade pic.twitter.com/kLj9GiL9P2
— Pak Yiu (@pakwayne) June 30, 2019
As helicopters carrying the Chinese and Hong Kong flags fly past, protesters give them the middle finger pic.twitter.com/XNO72m82yg
— Julia Hollingsworth (@juliaholli) July 1, 2019
Thread – Here's how fighters in #HongKong mark the city's 22nd anniversary of transfer of soverignity. PRC flag replaced by a black flag to express anger & disobedience to authority, while #HK flag flies at half-mast perhaps to mourn the death of freedom & one country two systems pic.twitter.com/bloUAD7TeR
— Phoebe Kong 江穎怡 (@phoebe_kongwy) July 1, 2019
Protesters moving barricades to take more space at Harcourt Road in Hong Kong
Someone just offered me some McDonalds pic.twitter.com/v41flKN0Em
— Erin Hale (@erinhale) July 1, 2019
#HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/JzKwrz0E5D
— Tom Laker (@thomaslaker) July 1, 2019
And using zip ties have refashioned them into barricades (while at the same time much improving the navigability of the city’s footpaths for pedestrians) NB @DesigningHK ! pic.twitter.com/hkA9pIlY60
— Antony Dapiran (@antd) July 1, 2019
Outside Legco, the sound of sledgehammers against the glass and a crowd of protesters chanting, 加油加油, or “Come on! Go!” pic.twitter.com/iusqHMZYLg
— Austin Ramzy (@austinramzy) July 1, 2019
7:20PM The sound of clanging metal reverberated over crescendoing cheers. To conceal those smashing the glass gates, protesters have huddled around them with a moving wall of umbrellas. pic.twitter.com/uePf7VSJFU
— Tiffany May (@nytmay) July 1, 2019
Photos taken earlier on when the lawmakers tried to stop the protesters from storming the legco. #antiELAB #HongKongProtests #FreedomHK pic.twitter.com/5za9ZHMj3R
— Jessie Pang (@JessiePang0125) July 1, 2019
Protesters brought in a ladder and are smashing the CCTV system – surveillance/ID of protesters has been an ongoing concern #HongKongextraditionbill #antiELAB #hongkongprotests pic.twitter.com/X5MUtDAtck
— Rosalind Adams (@RosalindZAdams) July 1, 2019
hundreds of protesters have smashed through into hong kong's legislative council building and police have retreated. 22 years after hong kong's sovereignty was transferred to china, we are in completely uncharted territory. pic.twitter.com/B6O0omU66z
— wilfred chan (@wilfredchan) July 1, 2019
Hundreds take over Legco in HK destroying everything, they want to occupy the chamber pic.twitter.com/cAcAQ0gaGj
— Pak Yiu (@pakwayne) July 1, 2019
#LIVE: #antiELAB protesters have occupied #legco chamber. #HKprotests @SCMPNews pic.twitter.com/5s9YRnJyeo
— Lok. (@sumlokkei) July 1, 2019
Telegram groups now calling protestors who are not entering Legco to ensure those who have entered will have an escape route when something happens + to encircle the Legco complex so police cannot approach and close on those inside.
— antiELAB (@anti_elab) July 1, 2019
LegCo’s fire evacuation plan was just airdropped to me – continue to be impressed by planning here #hongkongprotests #hongkongextraditionbill pic.twitter.com/hyA64U87gj
— Rosalind Adams (@RosalindZAdams) July 1, 2019
知道是非黑白。 pic.twitter.com/8atw9rKmYF
— Ka Ming 家明 (@kaming) July 1, 2019
Inside HK'S Legislative Council building, protesters have filled walls with grafitti, created barricades with metal gates and broken panes of glass. Many are holding homemade shields of cardboard. Eggs are splattered on the walls. pic.twitter.com/dLaz09h1oo
— Daniel Victor (@bydanielvictor) July 1, 2019
【更新】
【立法会会议室受严重破坏】
【主席台上被盖上港英旗】 pic.twitter.com/xyPJeZhMeh— 自由亚洲电台 (@RFA_Chinese) July 1, 2019
Speakers chair and Hong Kong SAR emblem defaced in LegCo. And that’s a Hong Kong Colonial flag too.#antiELAB#NoChinaExtradition#SaveHongKong pic.twitter.com/bDTCj9UGEN
— Alex Hofford (@alexhofford) July 1, 2019
Hofford later posted more images of the occupation:
New LegCo President, anyone?#antiELAB#NoChinaExtradition#SaveHongKong pic.twitter.com/6wLfcqPv2p
— Alex Hofford (@alexhofford) July 1, 2019
Vandalised servers, documents scattered all around, defaced group photo of Hong Kong lawmakers.#antiELAB#NoChinaExtradition#SaveHongKong pic.twitter.com/TvAOgFC8OO
— Alex Hofford (@alexhofford) July 1, 2019
The British colonial flag of Hong Kong. In LegCo, exactly 22 years after the handover – to the day.#antiELAB#NoChinaExtradition#SaveHongKong pic.twitter.com/oXXrZRXs9c
— Alex Hofford (@alexhofford) July 1, 2019
Portrait of current LegCo President Andrew Leung lies defaced and damaged on the floor.#antiELAB#NoChinaExtradition#SaveHongKong pic.twitter.com/UwzJWKv0wi
— Alex Hofford (@alexhofford) July 1, 2019
For those that wonder why only a side is defaced – that is the Chinese words of "People's Republic of China"#antiELAB #NoChinaExtradition#SaveHongKong #HongKongProtests #HongKongExtraditionLaw #extraditionbill #香港加油 #香港 #香港デモ #ExtraditionLaw #hongkong #hk #反送中 pic.twitter.com/D5kDoev1HE
— XVIII (@XVXVIIII) July 1, 2019
A very meta moment- some protesters resting in the cafeteria inside LegCo where they’re watching the coverage of the protests on tv #HongKongExtraditionLaw #hongkongprotests #antiELAB pic.twitter.com/lkYYypLBvY
— Rosalind Adams (@RosalindZAdams) July 1, 2019
A protester tears apart a copy of the Basic Law at the Legislative Council president’s desk covering by a pre-Handover Hong Kong flag – a very symbolic protest https://t.co/3xzXqlS0J8 pic.twitter.com/3mDBSDqEAl
— Kris Cheng (@krislc) July 1, 2019
(Inkstone’s Alan Wong posted a thread explaining the symbolism of the colonial flag.)
in the legislative chamber, an unmasked protester rallies the crowd: we've come too far. this is our final opportunity—we can't afford to lose. if we have a thousand in here they can't strike or gas us all. if you can't stay, please peacefully surround the building and protect us pic.twitter.com/mtd5zuidew
— wilfred chan (@wilfredchan) July 1, 2019
The LegCo Building was violently attacked and forced to enter illegally. The police severely condemned the violent attack. The police will conduct sweeping in a short period of time and will take reasonable force.The police also appeal unrelated protestors to leave the vicinity. pic.twitter.com/0YPsExD3FM
— Hong Kong Police Force (@hkpoliceforce) July 1, 2019
NEW- police are reportedly calling today’s action a riot and protesters are calling for others to come down from upper floors of LegCo to gather collectively and decide next steps pic.twitter.com/Oimp7OYmgK
— Rosalind Adams (@RosalindZAdams) July 1, 2019
protesters reiterate their demands. "if the government doesn't withdraw the extradition bill, we'll keep playing this way until the end. we've now entered the chamber once and we will come back a second and third and fourth time. the legislative council belongs to the people." pic.twitter.com/kTArW4TAOA
— wilfred chan (@wilfredchan) July 1, 2019
in addition to previous demands—protester calls not just for lam's resignation, but for full universal suffrage for both the chief executive & legislative council. "we are putting our bodies on the line to protect our home," he declares. pic.twitter.com/hWf5KqSrTt
— wilfred chan (@wilfredchan) July 1, 2019
Outside LegCo, protesters have have toughened up the barricades after police have announced they were coming to the scene pic.twitter.com/tcpmj9fLRb
— Pak Yiu (@pakwayne) July 1, 2019
multiple protesters are crying; the thought of leaving just a few people in the chamber to face imminent police violence is unbearable. but the plan remains the same—and the protesters choosing to withdraw will head downstairs to join the crowds trying to hold off the police. pic.twitter.com/8eFOGYJH7T
— wilfred chan (@wilfredchan) July 1, 2019
suddenly dozens of protesters burst in chanting "leave together!" and grab the remaining few protesters out of the chamber to safety. after the recent tragedies, protesters are determined to leave no one behind, no matter what. pic.twitter.com/IPm7Ds4Vda
— wilfred chan (@wilfredchan) July 1, 2019
WATCH: #ExtraditionBill protesters in #HongKong's Legislative Council argue about what to do as police move in on them, with some trying to drag people out of the chamber pic.twitter.com/vQfI1C5hHA
— RTHK English News (@rthk_enews) July 1, 2019
Hong Kong cops fire tear gas at people clearly retreating. Just saw pepperball gun & beanbag shotgun. Everyone is leaving. pic.twitter.com/qa5NbxVaVu
— dr. trey (@Comparativist) July 1, 2019
midnight. police have arrived, armed to the teeth. they are charging and hurling tear gas grenades. again the night has turned into hell. pic.twitter.com/E8RIJ3KUAZ
— wilfred chan (@wilfredchan) July 1, 2019
More tear gas here as protesters start to run away #hongkongprotests #antiELAB pic.twitter.com/ksyvtYNsnL
— Rosalind Adams (@RosalindZAdams) July 1, 2019
Protesters are backing down Tim Mei Ave toward Lung Wo Rd, all the while extinguishing teargas cannisters with water and fire extinghishers. pic.twitter.com/SNTvAFQGGB
— Kong Tsung-gan / 江松澗 (@KongTsungGan) July 1, 2019
Something of a pause now as police clear barricades on eastern edge of Harcourt protest camp. I found the portrait of Jasper Tsang from LegCo. pic.twitter.com/8x8tJIbU6a
— ????? ????????? ????????? (@jgriffiths) July 1, 2019
Protesters waving everyone to fully clear area, as one told me “safety first” #hongkongprotests #antiELAB pic.twitter.com/Sxk40YFOSJ
— Rosalind Adams (@RosalindZAdams) July 1, 2019
Elderly woman standing in front of dozens of riot police, telling the officers that she won’t charge, but she also won’t be afraid of the police as well. “Do you think the teenage protesters want to break the glass walls? The government forced them to do so!” @SCMPNews pic.twitter.com/MWB3DpAbfb
— Phila Siu (Bobby) (@phila_siu) July 1, 2019
Police have pretty much cleared the surrounding area of LegCo and pushed protesters out, now they’re telling journalists to leave pic.twitter.com/N2BRqo4SJe
— Pak Yiu (@pakwayne) July 1, 2019
Just in: dozens of riot police and officers entered into Legco chambers. Protesters left at midnight already. pic.twitter.com/2XMXCIdNxi
— Alvin L (@alvinllum) July 1, 2019
Police now filing into LegCo – just before midnight I spoke to some protesters inside the chamber who said a few hardcore demonstrators were going to try and camp out inside the building pic.twitter.com/YmKiDLFLJ7
— Sue-Lin Wong 黄淑琳 (@suelinwong) July 1, 2019
The last 3 protesters who refused to leave the #LegCo chamber have all been removed by other protesters. Their values should be respected but their lives and safety are far more important. #Hongkongers take care one another it shows again. #反送中 #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/OAJrwj1dxQ
— Ray Chan (@ray_slowbeat) July 1, 2019
I don’t have a view of what’s outside as I’m still in Legco tracking the police. No one found after 45 minutes of searching every room on every floor @SCMPNews #antiextraditionbill #AntiELAB pic.twitter.com/GaiBTrhv1H
— G-DLEE (@JournoDannyAero) July 1, 2019
1- video on lower right hand corner shows police stopped a mini van and started searching passengers after they cleared protest site about two hours ago. #hongkong pic.twitter.com/coH6THlVrx
— Fion Li (@fion_li) July 1, 2019
Ground floor at LegCo pic.twitter.com/FpWUTgFkkc
— Catherine Lai (@catherinehslai) July 1, 2019
But this banner "swear to protect rule of law, oppose extradition to China" is still hanging pic.twitter.com/DCnw1ZtFrw
— Catherine Lai (@catherinehslai) July 1, 2019
Even amid the damage, there were signs of the restraint and consideration for which the protests have been widely praised.
Crowd reacting as some tear gas thrown. Can’t tell from where. Someone is literally wrapping my arms in Saran Wrap to protect me as I tweet #HongKongProtest #antiELAB #HongKongextraditionbill pic.twitter.com/68ljDiWeqR
— Rosalind Adams (@RosalindZAdams) July 1, 2019
Tidy protestors cleaning up the broken glass!#AntiELAB#NoChinaExtradition #SaveHongKong pic.twitter.com/iF43FFLtMQ
— Alex Hofford (@alexhofford) July 1, 2019
Only in #HongKong:
Protesters storming Legco left money in the fridge for drinks they took#antiELAB #HongKongProtest #FreedomHK #ExtraditionBill #反送中 #香港 pic.twitter.com/iVMyd58Zip— HKDemoNow (@hkdemonow) July 1, 2019
Scenes inside the legislative building:
“There are no rioters, only a tyranny”, says this graffiti next to a makeshift barricade guarding the library with a sign: “protect the books, no damaging” pic.twitter.com/0qC8OcwSTA
— Elaine Yu (@yuenok) July 1, 2019
Not everything. Protestors were putting up signs asking people not to destroy important documents. pic.twitter.com/iRyvT49U1q
— Doriane Lau (@dorianelau) July 1, 2019
Yet there’s still room for considerate behaviour, as we see here with the handwritten warning not to destroy the valuable items in this room pic.twitter.com/iiOD01sMBo
— Aaron Mc Nicholas (@aaronMCN) July 1, 2019
What you don’t see on the news. Two #antiELAB protesters and a firstaider approached riot police to offer bottles of water. They kindly accepted. One protester laughed and said “唔好再見! (Hope not see you again)” pic.twitter.com/CFGrZFarHI
— Rachel Cheung (@rachel_cheung1) July 1, 2019
Seeing that I wasn't wearing any, a protester thrust a pair of googles in my hand as he retreated from police
— Catherine Lai (@catherinehslai) July 1, 2019
This turn in the resistance to the extradition changes has sparked widespread debate and concern, of which more coverage will follow.
