Xinhua office attacked during protests; Hong Kong journalists issue apologies
Hong Kong/UNI: The office of Chinese state news agency Xinhua was attacked for the first time during the ongoing Hong Kong protests by some radicals, who tried to torch the building by throwing petrol bombs into the lobby smashing its glass doors and windows – when some Xinhua staff were still working inside, South China Morning Post reported on Sunday.
'Fortunately the fire was contained and did not cause any extensive damage', it further reported, adding that the Hong Kong News Executives’ Association and the Hong Kong Journalists Association both issued statements condemning the attack and demanding police look into it.
China's autonomous state Hong Kong is reeling under violent demonstrations against the mainland government for months now. While it started as a movement against implementation of an Extradition Law Amendment Bill in March, the chaos and violence has further aroused due to regime’s current controversial decision to disqualify populist candidate Joshua Wong Chi-fung from running in the district council elections.
Once again, police battled protesters on the bustling streets of Hong Kong. The clashes took place mainly in the densely populated commercial districts of Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Central, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui.
Police’s use of water cannons, tear gas, pepper spray and batons were met with flaming barricades and petrol bombs from protesters as the two sides played cat-and-mouse throughout the night.
More than 200 people were arrested on Saturday for protest-related offences including unlawful assembly and violating the mask ban, police said at 1am on Sunday.
As of 1930 hrs on Sunday, 54 people were injured and taken to hospital. A man in Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei was in a serious condition, 23 were stable and the remaining 30 have been discharged.
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