Hong Kong protesters removed a Chinese national flag from its pole and flung it into the city’s iconic Victoria Harbour on Saturday after a pro-democracy rally once again continued into the evening despite police warnings to stick to a short, pre-approved route.
Tens of thousands of black-clad protesters filled a major road in a usually bustling market district where shop owners had shuttered their storefronts in anticipation of a prolonged demonstration.
They also blocked a tunnel and surrounded police stations where non-emergency services were suspended.
The protest was the latest in a summer-long pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory. While the rallies have been largely peaceful, they have increasingly devolved into skirmishes with police after some protesters refused to disperse at assigned times.
Since the rallies began in early June, protesters have vandalised buildings and thrown bricks, while police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets.
In a separate demonstration on Saturday, thousands of people dressed in white gathered at a Hong Kong park to express their support for the police. They held up signs that read “Give Peace a Chance.”
Pro-democracy demonstrators began setting up first aid stations and handing out helmets a few hours into their rally. When one group reached the harbour near a luxury shopping center and high-end hotels, some protesters climbed up a cluster of flag poles and removed the Chinese national flag.