Hong Kong protesters mark six months since first major clash with police

Hundreds of Hong Kong protesters gathered on Thursday to mark six months since their first major clash with police when they blocked legislators from advancing a detested extradition bill that has since been scrapped.

On June 12, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters occupying roads near the legislative council just as it was to give a second reading to the bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party.

After the clash, the council reading was indefinitely postponed and the bill later formally withdrawn. But the outrage caused by the police response contributed to the unrest evolving into a prolonged struggle for greater democracy.

Demonstrators’ demands now include universal suffrage and an independent inquiry into the police handling of the protests. Police have described their actions as reactive and restrained.

On Thursday, hundreds of Hong Kongers of all ages gathered in a central park in the heart of the Chinese-ruled city’s financial district to mark the event, starting with a moment of silence with a somber tone prevailing throughout.

“June 12 was a turning point in this movement,” said Mark Chou, a 24-year-old engineer in the crowd. “We had a one million people peaceful march on June 9, but the government was still pushing the bill forward at that time. This experience taught us peaceful protest would not work in this city.”

Organizers were collecting Christmas cards to be sent to people arrested during demonstrations in the past six months.

Hundreds queued at Tai Wai Po Fook Memorial Hall to lay flowers and mourn last month’s death of Chow Tsz-lok, a 22-year-old student who fell from the third floor of a parking lot as protesters were being scattered by police.

In a sign the movement retains broad support, pro-democracy candidates won almost 90 percent of the seats in district council elections last month, while a peaceful march on Sunday drew 800 000 demonstrators, according to organisers.