News / Asia

Hong Kong Police Arrest Hundreds in Anti-Government Protest

Police officers hold pepper spray cans against protesters as they try to break through a police cordon to carry out a sit-in protest in the Hong Kong's central business district, July 1, 2011.
TEXT SIZE - +

Hong Kong police say they arrested more than 200 people during an anti-government demonstration Friday.

Television reports showed police using pepper spray to disperse protesters, who were paralyzing traffic.  Authorities said Saturday that they arrested 228 people on charges of illegal assembly and obstruction of public places.

The demonstration on Friday, the 14th anniversary of the British handover of the territory to China, was organized to pressure the government into postponing or withdrawing a controversial bill to scrap Legislative Council by-elections.

The Hong Kong government wants to fill vacant seats based on previous election results.

Organizers say 218,000 people turned out for the protest, but police put the figure at 54,000.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

You May Like

Video Egypt's Conservative Rural Vote Appears Split

Early speculation after the first two-day round is showing a race too close to call More

NATO Continues Plans for Missile Defense

While Afghanistan dominated talks in Chicago, member states also reaffirmed their commitment to ballistic-missile defense More

War Declared on Invasive Leaping Asian Carp

When Asian carp were first imported decades ago, few foresaw their environmental impact. More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Latest Asia News

Climbers Crowd Mount Everest Despite Deadly Week

More

French President Outlines Early Pullout From Afghanistan

More

China Files WTO Cases Against US Tariffs

More

French President Outlines Early Pullout From Afghanistan

More

Gunmen Attack Bus, Killing 7 in Southern Pakistan

More
Read more

Vietnam's new technology entrepreneurs look global

More

SpaceX Capsule Closes in on ISS - Live Video

More