26 October 2016, 12:49 GMT
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Sunday, up to 13,000 people gathered in Hong Kong to protest against possible interpretation of the Basic Law that had been announced after several newly-elected regional lawmakers refused to declare their allegiance to Beijing at a swearing ceremony. At the same time, police estimated that the rally was attended by some 8,000 people.
The South China Morning Post said on Sunday that clashes between groups of protesters and police officers started after several demonstrators tried to charge police barricades.
The newspaper added that after several warnings, police officers fired pepper spray and dispersed the crowd.
China gained sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 and over Macau in 1999. Both administrative regions were granted legal, economic and political autonomy from Beijing under the "one country, two systems" principle formulated by Chairman of the Central Advisory Commission of the Communist Party of China Deng Xiaoping in early 1980s.
