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SCMP Reporters

Chaos is again breaking out in Hong Kong as the city enters its 14th weekend of anti-government protests with multiple confrontations between riot police and protesters at Central station. Some have spilled out into the streets of the business district.
Thousands of protesters nearby have marched to the United States consulate in the city, calling on Washington to pass an act in support of Hong Kong’s democratic development and human rights.
Tensions flared late on Saturday night in several MTR stations across the city with increasingly violent clashes between police and protesters. It comes despite the city's leader announcing on Wednesday that she would completely withdraw the hated extradition bill that first sparked the crisis.
Follow our live blog below for updates.
Reporting by Simone McCarthy, Yujing Liu, Minnie Chan and Victor Ting


As it happened: protests spread to Kowloon after tear gas and MTR vandalism on Hong Kong Island

A protester throws a brick at a police van in Causeway Bay. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hongkongers march on US consulate to call for human rights help

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Protesters on the march wave US flags. Photo: Simone McCarthy


Protesters disperse again as ongoing game of cat-and-mouse with riot police continues
Central MTR station smashed up and entrance set alight as small group of radicals broke away from bigger march

 


Tensions flared in Hong Kong on Saturday as police clashed with protesters following a peaceful march to the US consulate, in which demonstrators called on Washington to pass an act in support of the city’s democratic development and human rights.


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More people are crowding into Chater Garden in Central, shouting: “Stay with Hong Kong, fight for freedom.”
All of them are joining the prayer session in the area, even though many of them are not Christian.


More join prayer session in Chater Garden

Mr Tai, who came to the rally with his wife and their 10-year-old daughter, says he hopes the US will give Hongkongers a helping hand, and pressure China to restore the freedom it promised to the city under the "one country, two systems" framework.
"The government is not listening to the people's voices at all, so we have to try all kinds of means," says the 43-year-old.
The parents also want their daughter to experience what is happening in society, because teachers at her primary school refuse to talk about the ongoing anti-government protests, he says.
"I'm not worried about her safety here, as long as the police are not doing stupid things," he adds.


'Government is not listening'

Protesters pouring down Lower Albert Road have opened their umbrellas after spotting riot police filming the crowd from their position on Upper Albert Road.
Thousands of protesters had marched to the US consulate, calling on Washington to pass an act in support of the city’s democratic development and human rights.



Umbrellas open on Lower Albert Road

At about 4pm, the MTR Corporation announced that Central station was temporarily closed due to an "escalation of the situation". Trains on the Tsuen Wan line and Island line will skip the station.
The station was closed as the crowd gathering at Chater Garden was getting bigger.



Central station closes

A protester has delivered a speech outside the US consulate calling for the United States to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. 
“We keep waving the star-spangled banner even when the guns of tyranny are pointing at us,” he says.
After the speech, the crowd of several hundred chants “Resist Beijing; liberate Hong Kong”, and plays the US national anthem.



Asking the US for help

With Central station closed for an hour, most of the riot police have boarded vehicles outside Hong Kong station and left. 
Police earlier took away at least three men.
Hong Kong station has remained open but metal barriers block the way to Central station, which remains closed.


 


Police heading away

Protesters have been praying for Hong Kong, and singing the US national anthem during a demonstration in Chater Garden.
Protesters are praying for Hong Kong and singing the US national anthem at a demonstration in Chater Garden, despite the gathering being called off at 4:45pm by police https://t.co/BLl1skFsQm
Video: SCMP/Minnie Chan pic.twitter.com/AUxTQtYXAT
— SCMP Hong Kong (@SCMPHongKong) September 8, 2019


Oh, say can you see

Many shops around Central station are pulling down their shutters and appear to be closing early.
This is the scene at Exit D of Central station.



Closing for the day

After the chaotic scenes inside Central MTR station, where three people were taken away by police, angry protesters smash the glass at some exits.
The protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong" is sprayed on the exit, and Post-it messages demanding the MTR release security camera footage of what happened inside Prince Edward station last weekend are put up.
That day, police officers chased protesters into the station and beat up some people inside. Protesters claimed it was an indiscriminate attack on commuters.


Smashing up Central station

Protesters gather on Pedder Street and parts of Des Voeux Road in Central outside the Landmark building. 
Riot police previously closed down Central station but officers have mostly left.
Anticipating an imminent clash, protesters are gearing up with gas masks and googles, and building barricades as well as digging up bricks from the pavement.



Occupying Central

Security guards at the upmarket Pacific Place shopping centre in Admiralty have attempted to close the shutter at its entrance to the walkway to United Centre, before being stopped by a handful of protesters.
A 21-year-old protester surnamed Chan is standing under the half-closed shutter. He says he was told the entrance would be closed in three minutes, but he won't let them do it.
A security guard says the mall will not shut the gate for now.



Shutters staying up for now 

Protesters join a march from Chater Garden to the US consulate in Central for Sunday's anti-government march.



Thousands on streets

A stand-off between a handful of police and dozens of protesters inside Admiralty station has lasted more than 10 minutes. Protesters chant and shout angrily at police near ticket barriers. One man is arrested and taken away.



Station stand-off

Some protesters are dismantling railings on Jackson Road in Central. 
Some protesters are dismantling railings on Jackson Road after Central station was blocked https://t.co/QEr7wwI7Mm
Video: SCMP/Minnie Chan pic.twitter.com/uLRNV2xKLT
— SCMP Hong Kong (@SCMPHongKong) September 8, 2019


Railings being dismantled

A young man has been taken to a police car by a dozen riot police in full gear, after he was arrested inside Admiralty station.



Man arrested in Admiralty

A dense crowd is still marching onto Lower Albert Road from Garden Road as the march's approved 5.30pm end time nears. About two dozen riot police block the road.
Several protesters, one of whom says he was involved in organising today’s events, are taking turns waving the marchers past the police line along the route and calling on crowds to disperse.
“We are trying our best to keep people safe,” says one young woman surnamed Chan, who describes herself as a volunteer.


Still marching

With Central MTR station closed, the queue for the Star Ferry crossing Victoria Harbour extends all the way back across the footbridge to the entrance to IFC mall.
 


Ferry queue grows

A wall outside the US consulate has been turned into a temporary 'Lennon Wall', calling on the United States to “rescue Hong Kong”.



New Lennon Wall

Protesters have set trip wires for police by tying transparent fishing line onto metal railings on two sides of Pedder Street in Central.



Trip wires in Central 

A protester with a catapult aims at riot police watching the marchers through thick vegetation on Upper Albert Road, as they make their way along Lower Albert Road.



Taking pot shots at police

Protesters are burning cardboard on Pedder Street.



Fire on Pedder Street

More than 80 riot police keep an eye on protesters at Admiralty station, while the crowd inside the turnstiles is shrinking, with people dispersing after a man was arrested and taken away 10 minutes ago.



Crowd dispersing at Admiralty station

Protesters set fire to barricades outside exit F of Central station. A fire truck arrives to put it out, as many protesters say they will head to Causeway Bay or other areas.
A wall of fire - created by protesters - is blocking one of the entrances to Central MTR station https://t.co/QEr7wwI7Mm
Video: SCMP/Lea Li pic.twitter.com/dZFQLel7y3
— SCMP Hong Kong (@SCMPHongKong) September 8, 2019


Protesters set fire outside Central station

Activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung says he was arrested by police for “breaching bail conditions” at Hong Kong airport’s customs on Sunday morning. 
"Preliminary legal advice suggested that the court had acknowledged and approved my trips to Germany and the US when it granted bail on August 30," he said through his legal representative, adding that he believed "some mistakes have been made on the bail certificate".
He says he expects to be released on Monday morning after a hearing. 
Wong was previously arrested in connection with extradition bill protests.
 


Joshua Wong arrested at airport

A firefighter extinguishes the flames outside the Central station exit.



Putting out fire

Riot police have moved onto Des Voeux Road Central and stopped outside HSBC building, chasing protesters further down the street.
 



Riot police on Des Voeux Road Central 

Hundreds of protesters are marching along Queensway, with many wielding long metal sticks, while others are digging up bricks from the pavement.
Masked protesters are digging up bricks on Queensway near Admiralty MTR station https://t.co/QEr7wwI7Mm
Video: SCMP/Minnie Chan pic.twitter.com/PCSLGveOa0
— SCMP Hong Kong (@SCMPHongKong) September 8, 2019


Protesters on the move

Protesters are leaving Central and Admiralty and making their way to Wan Chai as the two MTR stations are closed.
They are shouting slogans and abuse at riot police as they pass them on Queen’s Road East.
Protesters are leaving Central and Admiralty after both MTR stations were closed. They are shouting slogans and scolding riot police on their way to Wanchai https://t.co/QEr7wwI7Mm
Video: SCMP/Minnie Chan pic.twitter.com/LghXaCl3YW
— SCMP Hong Kong (@SCMPHongKong) September 8, 2019


Protesters heading to Wan Chai

Dozens of protesters are surrounded by Special Tactical Squad officers on Ice House Street just after 6pm.



Keeping protesters contained

Protesters have smashed the windows on both sides of a Central station MTR exit.


 


Trashed

Protesters move quickly in the direction of Causeway Bay along Queen's Road East, after riot police at the intersection between the street and Queensway raise a red flag warning protestors to "stop charging, or we use force".



We'll use force, warn police

What looks like the tail end of a stream of protesters has just marched onto Queen's Road East in the direction of Causeway Bay, singing songs that mock police.



Police mocked

Earlier on Sunday, thousands of people marched from Chater Garden in Central to the US consulate, urging Washington to pass an act in support of Hong Kong's democratic development and human rights.
A US consulate spokesman replied in the evening: "We do not have a comment at this time. We can confirm that one of our diplomats received the petition letter."


No comment for now from US consulate

Protesters dig out bricks from the pavement in Wan Chai and throw them on to Queen's Road East, while building a roadblock with plastic barriers.



Protesters digging in

There is no traffic on Queensway in Admiralty heading east. The few cars trying to make it through are doing U-turns as protesters have left makeshift blockades in their wake.
A dozen police vans are making their way down the road, clearing blockages as they go.



No way through

MTR Corporation issues a statement that says Wan Chai and Central stations are closed and trains will now not stop at either station. Shortly after 6.30pm, the MTR announced it has temporarily closed Wan Chai station, following the closure of Central station earlier today.


Stations closed

Protesters have marched from Central to Admiralty, onwards to Wan Chai, and then to Causeway Bay.
Police have entered Causeway Bay MTR station and taken away at least two people, both with their hands tied behind their back.



Protesters now in Causeway Bay

Dozens of riot police pass Three Pacific Place, heading into Wan Chai and followed by six ambulances.
They have cleared the thin roadblocks made up of bricks and barriers.
The police line then pushed on towards the Hung Shing Temple on Queen's Road East.




Police on move too

Riot police say they are pushing forward to Wan Chai Road.

 


Pushing forward

Hong Kong superstar Aaron Kwok has been caught up in the protests - his sports car is stuck in traffic in Causeway Bay.



Superstar stuck in traffic

Police have fired tear gas in Causeway Bay. 
At least three rounds of tear gas were fired at Exit D2 of Causeway Bay MTR station.
 


Tear gas fired in Causeway Bay

Riot police have blocked one side of Leighton Road in Causeway Bay.

 


Police block Leighton Road

Riot police have moved into Causeway Bay MTR station and set up a cordon for exits D and F, to Sogo and Hysan shopping centres respectively. Other parts of the station are still running as normal.



Police cordon in MTR station

Riot police with shields have also cordoned off parts of Yee Wo Street and East Point Road outside Sogo department store in Causeway Bay.



Police line outside Sogo

Over in Central, police have regained control, with no protesters in sight. 
Hours earlier, thousands of people took part in a peaceful march from Chater Garden to the American consulate, where they called on US lawmakers to pass a bill protecting Hong Kong’s democratic freedoms and human rights.
But the scene turned ugly in the business district as some protesters lit fires and vandalised the MTR station.


Police in control in Central

A Causeway Bay resident demands police let her pass through the cordon so she can get to her home on East Point Road.
But police are having none of it, with an officer telling her to drop the act, calling her a paid actor.



Two sides to story

In a statement, police say a large group of protesters are blocking carriageways of Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay.
"Police have deployed tear gas and used appropriate force to disperse protesters," the statement adds. 
"Police appeal to everyone on site to leave immediately and condemn all violent acts by the protesters.
Residents are advised to stay tuned to the latest situation and, if necessary, keep their windows shut and to stay indoors, police say.


Police condemn violent acts by protesters

A group of riot police suddenly charges towards East Point Road near Sogo. Reporters are barred from following the officers.



Sudden charge by police

About a dozen riot police are heading away from Hysan Place shopping centre along Jardine’s Crescent, after a short stand-off with protesters. The protesters are also leaving the mall.


Tensions ease at Hysan Place 

Riot police have arrested at least one person on Kingston Street in Causeway Bay after suddenly charging towards a group.



Arrest on Kingston Street

Dozens of riot police are standing by on Great George Street, facing Victoria Park. 



Dozens of riot police near park

Cars trying to leave Causeway Bay on Great George Street blast their horns in protest as police block the road, giving way to a train of police vehicles and ambulances heading down Gloucester Road towards Victoria Harbour.



Road block

Police have rounded up more than 10 people outside St Paul's Convent School in Causeway Bay.
They are standing facing a wall with their hands behind their backs as police search their belongings.
Police have rounded up more than 10 people near St Paul's Convent School in Causeway Bay
Video: SCMP/Yujing Liu pic.twitter.com/oRJGR72SCs
— SCMP Hong Kong (@SCMPHongKong) September 8, 2019



Police stop at least 10 in Causeway Bay

Police who were standing guard at the bottom of Great George Street have piled into vans and departed.


Police leaving Great George Street

Police raise a black flag warning that they may use tear gas as a crowd of protesters chants “triad” at them on Jardine’s Crescent. 
Pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung is at the scene and tells police to calm down, and no one is planning to clash with officers.



Black flag raised

Nerves are a little frayed in Causeway Bay as police chase protesters.
One man tells police he supports them, to which an officer replies: "If you support our work, please go home now."
But some onlookers shout back: "We support police to go home!"


Home thoughts

Police have fired three rounds of tear gas near the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay, where mostly residents have gathered.
Police are restricting access to Hennessy Road, blocking Jardine's Crescent and Jardine's Bazaar. 
Shoppers are frantically leaving the area down alleyways.



 


More tear gas fired

A dozen tired-looking riot police, with sweat all over their faces, take a break as the lockdown of Irving Street, at the intersection with Tung Lo Wan road, continues.



Taking a break

Two more rounds of tear gas have been fired in Causeway Bay.




Two more rounds of tear gas

With police blocking Hennessy Road, a bus heading towards Sha Tin is told to make a U-turn.



Bus turned around

Police have fired four more rounds of tear gas in Causeway Bay.


More tear gas

First aid volunteers are helping a man who fainted on Russell Street while some people who have been teargassed get aid at an MTR entrance in Causeway Bay.


 


First aid volunteers jump into action

Scenes from Causeway Bay as police fired tear gas a short time ago.



 


Live | As it happened: protests spread to Kowloon after tear gas and MTR vandalism on Hong Kong Island