Pan-democrat lawmakers call on protesters to calm down to avoid ‘falling into government’s trap’, while Hong Kong feminist activist incurs wrath of demonstrators over Tin Shui Wai arrests
- Gary Fan of NeoDemocrats says government is fuelling clashes among residents by branding protests a separatist movement
- HKU professor Petula Ho targeted by online activist after peaceful protest she called resulted in 82 arrests
Pan-democrat legislators have called on some of the more radical protesters in the leaderless anti-extradition movement to calm down and rethink their strategy, or risk playing into the government’s hands.
NeoDemocrat lawmaker Gary Fan Kwok-wai also accused the government of fuelling the clashes between residents from both sides by branding the protests a separatist movement.
He was speaking a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in a press conference that the protesters were now calling for a revolution to liberate Hong Kong, which threatened national sovereignty.
“All of this is trying to justify the violent crackdown by police,” he said. “The protesters’ attempts to besiege police stations or confront officers will definitely weaken the movement and even fall into the government’s trap.”
Protesters in the movement, sparked by opposition to an extradition bill but which has broadened to encompass wider disaffection with the authorities, unleashed chaos across Hong Kong in an unprecedented citywide rampage on Monday.
