Hong Kong police fire tear gas as protesters defy ban

Police have fired tear gas at protesters in Hong Kong after anti-government marches went ahead in two areas of the Chinese territory in defiance of an official ban.

Tear gas was fired at a crowd of 1,000 people in a brief evening standoff at a railway station in Tai Wai in the northern region of New Territories.

In a separate incident, tear gas was fired at protesters who surrounded a police station in the Tsim Sha Tsui district on the northern side of Hong Kong harbour, opposite Hong Kong Island.

Hong Kong is in its ninth week of demonstrations that began in response to a proposed extradition law but have expanded to include other grievances and demands for more democratic freedoms.

Protesters want the resignation of the territory’s leader, chief executive Carrie Lam, and an investigation into complaints of abuses by police.

Also on Saturday evening, protesters blocked an entrance to a tunnel that carries traffic under the harbour in the Hung Hom area.

Earlier in the day, afternoon protest marches went ahead in two areas, Wong Tai Sin and Tai Po, despite a police refusal of permission for the gatherings.

That came after a group of parents staged a separate march, which received police approval, calling for better protection for children following incidents in which ordinary people have been caught in clashes between police and protesters.

Demonstrators say China’s ruling Communist Party and Hong Kong leaders are eroding the liberties promised to the former British colony when it returned to China in 1997.

Opponents of the proposed extradition law said it would hurt the independence of Hong Kong courts and expose residents to political cases. The government suspended consideration of the proposed law.

Beijing has criticised some protesters as violent radicals spurred on by foreign forces bent on containing China’s development.

Protesters say police have used excessive force and ignored calls for help when thugs attacked civilians in a commuter rail station.

Ms Lam defended her government’s handling of the protests in a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

The protests have strained Beijing’s relations with Britain, which has called on China to honour the terms of their handover agreement and the freedoms its promises.

In the call on Friday, Ms Lam told Mr Raab that while her government “respects the diverse views held by members of the public on various issues as well as the freedoms of speech and assembly, it will not let violence and illegal behaviours disrupt public order”, said a statement issued by her office.

Also on Saturday, several thousand people dressed in black held a sit-in protest for a second day at Hong Kong’s busy international airport.

They chanted slogans, set up TV sets to show video of recent protests and handed out leaflets explaining the controversy over the proposed extradition law and demands for universal voting rights.