Hong Kong: Protestor critical after shot by police

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - Police in Hong Kong opened fire on protestors on Monday with live ammunition and tear gas canisters, leaving one demonstrator critically injured, local media reported.

Protestors, mainly young people, gathered at around 6:30 a.m. local time (10:30GMT Sunday) to mobilize support for a general strike, the Hong Kong Free Press reported.

The injured protestor was shot in abdomen in the Sai Wan Ho area of the once vibrant business city. He is reportedly in critical condition.

Hong Kong, an autonomous region under China since 1998, is witnessing protests since early June, against the Lam administration’s move to legalize extradition to mainland China.

Today’s incident follows a student's death last Friday after he fell in a car park near a police dispersal operation in the Tseung Kwan O area, where security forces had fired tear gas.

Protests have for months left the city reeling, with international financial observers having cut the economic progress of the business hub.

The government has already dumped the bill, but protests continue.

A professor from Hong Kong Chuhai College told Anadolu Agency that classes have been suspended while huge numbers of young protestors wear face masks and are on roads.

"HK [Hong Kong] authorities have gone too far," said Chien-Yu Shih, who teaches Politics and International Relations.

The Hong Kong government early in October banned wearing face masks, with many punished for defying the ban.

He added that there appeared to be a conspiracy to delay upcoming District Council elections set for Nov. 24.

"The pro-government candidates are going to dramatically lose,” he said, adding: "The consequence [of suspending, or even cancelling, elections] will further empower the protestors."

Chien-Yu Shih, who is also secretary-general of the Taiwan Central Asian Association, said that protestors are currently demanding an independent investigation committee for police violence.