HONG KONG: Angry confrontations broke out around Hong Kong’s parliament on Sunday as protesters supporting the city’s police taunted anti-government demonstrators on the eve of the anniversary of the semi-autonomous territory’s 1997 handover from Britain to China.

Crowds of police supporters chanted “Chinese traitors!” and profanities at their largely young opponents — highlighting the ideological fissures running through the finance hub as it experiences its worst political unrest in a generation.

Hong Kong saw two record-breaking rallies earlier this month by anti-government protesters opposed to a now-postponed plan to approve extradition to mainland China.

But it has also been rocked by unprecedented clashes.

On 12 June police used tear gas and rubber bullets to clear largely young anti-extradition protesters from around parliament.

The police classified the demonstration as a riot and defended their tactics, but opponents have accused officers of using excessive force and called for an independent inquiry.

Twice in the last two weeks the city’s police headquarters has been blockaded by angry crowds. On Sunday it was the turn of pro-government supporters, who rallied in their tens of thousands, many waving Chinese flags.

“I can’t put up with peoples’ behaviour towards police,” 70-year-old demonstrator Frances Yu said.

A 54-year-old office worker, who gave his surname as Wong, said officers were trying to “maintain order” and that anti-extradition demonstrators had gone too far.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2019