- Sputnik International
Asia
Find top stories and features from Asia and the Pacific region. Keep updated on major political stories and analyses from Asia and the Pacific. All you want to know about China, Japan, North and South Korea, India and Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Hong Kong Police Deny Engaging Chinese Army to Confront Protesters

© AFP 2023 / ANTHONY WALLACEProtesters throw back tear gas fired by the police in Wong Tai Sin during a general strike in Hong Kong on August 5, 2019, as simultaneous rallies were held across seven districts.
Protesters throw back tear gas fired by the police in Wong Tai Sin during a general strike in Hong Kong on August 5, 2019, as simultaneous rallies were held across seven districts. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
BEIJING (Sputnik) - Hong Kong police have refuted what they called rumours that they were engaging the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) under the guise of law enforcement to confront protesters who continue to demand the complete withdrawal of the city's extradition bill, the Hong Kong government said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Police today dismissed rumours that the People's Liberation Army has been deployed as Hong Kong Police, saying the rumours are totally unfounded," the statement read.

Rumours that the PLA was guarding a number of premises in Hong Kong surfaced after protesters vandalised the Chinese government secretariat building. The Hong Kong government has already rejected this information.

Last Thursday, PLA Commander Chen Daoxiang said that the army was prepared to ensure stability and security in Hong Kong.

Yet another rally swept Hong Kong on Monday as thousands of protesters almost completely blocked the city's traffic and engaged in violent clashes with law enforcement. Police had to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators. As many as 148 people were detained on charges of unlawful assembly, riot, assault of police officers and possession of weapons.

© REUTERS / TYRONE SIUProtesters at Tai Po residential area in Hong Kong, China, August 5, 2019.
Hong Kong Police Deny Engaging Chinese Army to Confront Protesters - Sputnik International
Protesters at Tai Po residential area in Hong Kong, China, August 5, 2019.

Hong Kong is in its third month of public unrest. People took to the streets in early June to protest against the adoption of a bill that would allow Hong Kong to extradite suspects to jurisdictions with which it did not previously have an extradition agreement, including mainland China. Even though the government announced it was suspending the bill, people are demanding that it be withdrawn completely.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала