Hong Kong protesters storm parliament on anniversary of return to China

HONG KONG - Hong Kong police clashed with protesters trying to storm the Legislative Council on Monday, the anniversary of the semiautonomous territory's return to China, prompting the council to issue a "red alert" for the first time since its creation.

The protesters smashed the doors, broke windows and ripped down the metal fencing around the Legislative Council, breaching the first line of barricades protecting the building before running into a metal shutter. Meanwhile, a massive peaceful march shut down the city's main thoroughfares - the latest in a string of acts of civil discontent that have rocked Hong Kong for almost a month.

Video broadcast from inside the building by local television stations showed riot police standing behind metal shutters as protesters repeatedly slammed against them and tried to pry them open in an apparent effort to fully enter the government complex. Outside, groups of protesters wearing masks and using umbrellas to try to block members of the media smashed through doors with metal rods and barricades. Demonstrators also ripped metal spears off the fence surrounding the complex.

The council's red alert means everyone should leave the area immediately. A spokesman for the Hong Kong government condemned those trying to storm the building.

"Protesters who resort to violence must stop their acts immediately. The police will take appropriate enforcement action to protect public order and safety," the spokesman said.

Monday's chaotic demonstrations came on a day when the territory's return to Beijing is officially celebrated.

Before dawn, riot police and hundreds of protesters gathered on roads leading to a square where the Hong Kong and Chinese flags were set to be raised. The ceremony, which was attended by Hong Kong leaders and dignitaries including chief executive Carrie Lam, was moved indoors as crowds of protesters gathered. Officials said the event, which has never been held indoors, was moved because of "inclement weather."

As helicopters carrying the flags flew over, protesters on the streets below waved middle fingers at them. Earlier in the morning, protesters had replaced a Chinese flag with a black flag featuring a withered Bauhinia flower, a riff on the Hong Kong flag.

The mostly young protesters had planned to march to the ceremony and disrupt the proceedings, which were held to mark the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from the British to the Chinese. Riot police pushed them back, spraying pepper spray and hitting protesters with batons.

Hospitals and police have not yet confirmed the number of injuries from the clashes. Police said in a statement that protesters earlier Monday had pelted officers with objects containing an "unknown liquid," which made their skin swollen and itchy. Thirteen officers were treated at hospital and discharged.

July 1, the anniversary of the handover, has always been marked by marches featuring hundreds of thousands of people who want to demonstrate Hong Kong's unique status and democratic characteristics.

But after weeks of unprecedented tensions in the semiautonomous territory, Monday's protests took on a different flavor. Protesters saw the occasion as their final chance for a massive stand against a government they believe is still not working in their interests.

"We are exhausted," said a 22-year-old protester who did not want to give his name for fear of retribution from authorities. "But today's march is special. We think it will be the last one that people will come out [to] on a large scale. We have to show our disappointment and anger."

An hour into the planned afternoon march, police sent out a warning, discouraging people from joining the procession.

"Police absolutely respect people's freedom of assembly, procession and expression of opinion in a peaceful and orderly manner," the statement said. "However, Police's risk assessment indicates that there is a serious safety threat in Admiralty and Wan Chai [areas] and thus advise members of the public to carefully consider whether to join the public procession on Hong Kong Island this afternoon."

Yet, demonstrators turned up in the tens of thousands, filling Hong Kong's main roads with a swell of shuffling people once again. Some in the march - the elderly, parents with children - broke off to join the young protesters gathered on Harcourt Road, the main city thoroughfare that they have taken over several times over the past month.

They carried signs that read: "We Shall Never Surrender" and "Hong Kong is Resilient."

Anger in Hong Kong, sparked by a proposal by the Hong Kong government to push through a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, has not been quelled. Lam has postponed the extradition plans, but demonstrators have continued to return to the streets in rallies like Monday's - the revival of a pro-democracy movement that is now advocating for a freer Hong Kong, for Lam to step down and for police to be investigated for their handling of the street protests, among other demands.

Protests were once again marked by a high degree of organization, with multiple first aid stations, human chains to pass supplies between the masses of people and hand symbols to indicate that police had started mobilizing or using pepper spray. Demonstrators urged each other and members of the public not to take photos of the crowd to ensure their anonymity.

More than 80 people were injured in a clash between police and protesters in mid-June, drawing the ire of many in Hong Kong who turned up at a large rally days later to denounce what they consider police brutality against young students.

Police appeared restrained on Monday by contrast.

Inside a convention center where the anniversary ceremony was held in the morning, Lam, flanked by Hong Kong and Chinese officials, raised a glass of champagne to mark the occasion. At a reception that followed, she said she had reflected on the disputes and that she understands "the need to grasp public sentiments accurately."

"After this incident, I will learn the lessons and ensure that the government's future work will be closer and more responsive to the aspirations, sentiments and opinions of the community," she said. Work to make Hong Kong's governance "more open and accommodating" will start immediately, she added.

She has not indicated that she would step down or fully withdraw the extradition plans. Analysts and some in her government say she has angered Beijing by misjudging the widespread and vociferous opposition to the extradition bill.

Others, however, also have marched to back the police. On Sunday, thousands of demonstrators showed up in support of the Hong Kong police and expressed appreciation for their efforts in managing the civil disobedience in recent weeks.

In mainland China, there was no mention of Monday's protests on social media. State media played up news of Sunday's pro-police rally and highlighted official celebrations of the anniversary of Hong Kong's return.

On several prior occasions, protesters surrounded and blocked off the police headquarters, threw eggs at the building and spray-painted surveillance cameras. The pro-police protesters tore down memorials and posters that had been put up over the past weeks, calling for Hong Kong's freedom and an end to police violence.

Pro-democracy protesters think that Hong Kong's relative autonomy, which is guaranteed under the "one country, two systems" framework, is at stake. Many here want Hong Kong to be able to pick its own leader and to abolish the current system in which chief executives such as Lam are selected by a committee, out of a small pool of candidates handpicked by Beijing.

Lam, speaking Monday, said Hong Kong is "backed by the motherland and open to the world" and has benefited from the "one country, two systems" framework.

"I and the [Hong Kong] government will double our efforts to restore people's confidence and get Hong Kong off to a new start," she added.

The 22-year-old protester, however, scoffed at Lam's comments, dismissing her as a pawn of Beijing.

"She has not responded to us, or learned how to engage with us," he said.

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The Washington Post’s Timothy McLaughlin in Hong Kong and Yuan Wang in Beijing contributed to this report.