Hong Kong streets are ablaze as anti-China activists torch barricades in bid to drive back police blasting tear gas and water cannons at determined masses
Thousands of protesters took the streets in the 13th weekend of pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong
Riot police in heavy armour fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters close to the army headquarters
Protesters, ducking beneath umbrellas, hurled petrol bombs, bricks and fired laser pointers back at the police
Earlier on Saturday a ‘prayer for sinners’ Christian march peacefully moved through the city
By ROSS IBBETSON and JAMES GANT
DAILYMAIL.COM
31 August 2019
Chaos engulfed Hong Kong’s financial heart on Saturday night as police fired tear gas and water cannon at petrol bomb-throwing protesters, who defied a ban on rallying – and mounting threats from China – to take to the streets for a 13th straight weekend.
Police had banned the demonstration on security grounds and on Friday arrested several key activists and legislators in a dragnet on pro-democracy figures.
But Saturday afternoon, large crowds – many in their signature black T-shirts and under a colourful canopy of umbrellas – defied the order to snake through Hong Kong island, blocking roads and chanting ‘reclaim Hong Kong, revolution of our times’.
Protesters set fire to a large roadblock near Hong Kong police headquarters, sending billows of black smoke into the night sky.
The group used plastic bollards, metal fencing and seating from a nearby sports ground to build the barricade before starting the blaze in the central district of Wan Chai.
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