HONG KONG - Hundreds of protesters entered the Legislative Council (LegCo) complex on Monday (July 1) night, trashing the place, tearing TV screens out and smashing other video screens with metal poles, even as officials issued a “red alert” for the first time.

The chaos came on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's return in 1997 to mainland China from British rule, and after weeks of demonstrations against a controversial extradition Bill, which has been suspended.

This is the first time the Parliament building has been damaged by protesters.

Protesters sprayed graffiti on the wall inside the building, and one of the lines read: "It is the government that forces us to do this".

One protester tried to hang the British colonial-era flag over the Hong Kong bauhinia emblem in the LegCo chamber.

Later on, someone was seen spraying the emblem with black paint.

The Hong Kong government slammed protesters for storming the parliament, accusing demonstrators of deploying “extreme violence”.

Outside on Harcourt Road, thousands brought umbrellas and metal barricades to the LegCo building, as some protesters set up barriers.

Police warned they will "take appropriate force in the event of obstruction or resistance".

After midnight, Hong Kong police moved in and fired tear gas at protesters near parliament. The last protesters move out of the building.

Earlier, armed with a metal cart and steel poles, some protesters rammed through a glass door at the building.

Riot police stationed inside the Legco building had responded with pepper spray, but that did not deter protesters from attempting to ram through another glass panel and some were seen throwing eggs at the building's gate. A flash of fire was briefly seen near one of the cracked glass panels.

The officers were seen loading their rifles with rubber bullets, and had put up a red banner that read: "Stop charging or we use force". Some lawmakers were seen trying to mediate between the protesters and police at the building's cracked glass doors in an attempt to stop the pushing.

Some police in the LegCo building were seen carrying AR-15 rifles.

The crowd was heard chanting, "Release the martyrs!", referring to those who were arrested by the police.

The authorities announced the government headquarters will be closed on Tuesday (July 2), due to security considerations.

550,000 TOOK PART IN SEPARATE ANNUAL JULY 1 MARCH

Two streets away, tens of thousands of peaceful protesters took part in the annual pro-democracy march, cheering each other on while calling on Chief Executive Carrie Lam to step down and for the Bill to be scrapped.

Organisers of the march say they recorded a turnout of 550,000.

The marchers, who started out from Victoria Park, ended their parade at Chater Road in Central, as organisers sought to avoid the chaos near the government complex in Admiralty.

Senior Superintendent Kong Wing Cheung said at a police press conference at around 2pm that the authorities had asked the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) to postpone or change the route of their pro-democracy march in Victoria Park.

CHRF later confirmed that the Monday march was rerouted. The route, which was originally supposed to end in Harcourt Road, Central, ended on Chater Road.



Protesters inside the Legislative Chamber after breaking into the Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI



GOVERNMENT SAYS POLICE WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO ENSURE PUBLIC ORDER

The government on Monday evening said in a statement it "strongly condemned and deeply regrets the extremely violent acts committed by some protesters" who stormed the Legislative Council (LegCo) Complex in the afternoon (July 1), "using a roll cage trolley as a ram and iron poles to shatter glass doors of the LegCo building.

A government spokesman said Hong Kong is a society that respects the rule of law, and has never tolerated violence.

Protesters who resort to violence must stop their acts immediately, the spokesman said, adding that the Police will take appropriate enforcement action to protect public order and safety.

Earlier, Legco chairman Andrew Leung strongly condemned the violence and had sought police assistance, a local media report said.

In Central, luxury boutiques like Hermes and Cartier closed in anticipation of the march. At the junction of Des Voeux Road Central and Charter Road, organisers were rallying the vote from the top of a makeshift stage built on top of a van.

Hong Kong police had earlier appealed to protesters not to resort to violence, stop blocking roads and leave the scene as soon as possible after clashes broke out on Monday morning in which riot police used pepper spray and batons.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE LAM PROMISES TO BE 'MORE OPEN'

Amid heightened security, Mrs Lam and other senior government officials witnessed a flag-raising ceremony inside the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai at 8am. The annual ceremony marked 22 years since Hong Kong was handed back to mainland China by the British.

In a speech at the event, Mrs Lam promised to change her style of governance to make it "more open and accommodating" and to "listen" to the thoughts of the young people who are at the forefront of the protests pressing for her resignation and the withdrawal of an unpopular Bill that will allow extradition of suspects to mainland China.

Beijing said on Monday that Britain had no responsibility for Hong Kong any more and was opposed to its “gesticulating”about the territory, Reuters reported.

Hours before her speech, riot police swooped down on protesters who had blockaded a street in the Wanchai district after a stand-off since early morning. They used pepper spray and batons in an attempt to push back the protesters who appeared to be throwing objects at them, local media reports said. At least one female protester was seen bleeding from a head wound after the clashes, an AFP report said.

A police statement released after the incident said a large number of protesters had "dashed" onto Lung Wo Road, Tim Mei Avenue and Harcourt Road. "They blocked the roads and obstructed traffic with mills barriers and sundries," it said.

Police have raised a red flag from inside the Legco building where they are storming pic.twitter.com/ORvdvwPd33 — Chris Lau (@hkchrislau) July 1, 2019

"Some protesters stole iron poles and bricks from nearby construction sites and guard rails from nearby roads," police said, adding that some had "also pried up bricks on Lung Wo Road and transported them towards Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre".

The police said the protesters threw unidentified liquid at the officers at 9.30am during the road blockade and charging of police cordon lines, resulting in some of them experiencing difficulty in breathing and swollen or itchy skin. Thirteen officers were sent to the hospital.

"The case was taken up by the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau. Police strongly condemn such illegal acts and will stringently follow up."

"Police appeal to protesters not to resort to violence, stop blocking roads and leave the scene as soon as possible," the statement said.

The government had put in a series of measures to contain the fallout as it braced for Monday's protests. Security was stepped up ahead of disruptions expected at the planned flag-raising ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai. The Square was under lockdown and the nearby Convention and Exhibition Centre was closed. Harbour Road, next to the Convention Centre, had been cleared out by officers to let attendees of the morning reception gain access.

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Shortly before 7am, the government also issued a statement that guests would view the flag-raising ceremony from the Convention Centre as wet weather plans kicked in amid scattered showers. Consequently, the flags were raised outside while the attendees at the ceremony watched a live broadcast of the proceedings.

Police earlier urged the public to avoid Admiralty and Wanchai, which are near the area of protests, while train services to these two stations were suspended and only resumed just before 11am.

PROTESTERS GATHER IN THE WEE HOURS

In the wee hours of Monday morning, hundreds of black-clad protesters gathered at Tamar Park in Admiralty. At around 3am, they replaced the national flag with a black version while the official Hong Kong flag was at half-mast beside it.

By 4.30am, some parts of Lung Wo Road that stretches from Central to Wan Chai were blocked and protesters were dragging metal and water-filled barricades to block roads.

Some 100 police armed with shields and helmets were stationed at Lung Wo Road near the Convention Centre and started to clear protesters by 5.30am.

Some of last month’s massive protests turned violent causing dozens to be arrested and injured.

The protesters are demanding the full withdrawal of a controversial extradition Bill which will allow for suspects to be extradited to the mainland. The Bill has been suspended indefinitely. The protesters also want the release of all those who were arrested and an investigation into alleged police brutality on June 12.