HONG KONG: Riot police fire tear gas, baton-charge many in renewed clashes with protesters

Thousands of demonstrators, many wearing hard hats and gas masks, on Saturday clashed with riot policemen who fired tear gas and baton-charged demonstrators in renewed clashes in Hong Kong.

Reports say tear gas swept across the road as protesters retaliated with a barrage of stones, bottles and bamboo poles as a standoff in a working-class neighbourhood descended into violence.

According to reports “Braves” – a group of front-line protesters pulled together a barricade of traffic barriers and bamboo construction poles to create a demarcation.

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As the afternoon wore on, some of the protesters fired stones from slingshots, prompting a charge from police, wielding batons and pepper spray.

The fresh stand-off comes as Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam informed that she is open to talks with critics of her government, but has stylishly refused to confirm if the controversial extradition bill has been withdrawn.

In a news conference on Tuesday morning, Lam announced that her office “will start immediately a platform for dialogue with people from all walks of life”, while promising to conduct an investigation into alleged police abuse of protesters.

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