HK lawmaker explains how he tried to stop protesters скачать в хорошем качестве

HK lawmaker explains how he tried to stop protesters

(3 Jul 2019) A pro-democracy lawmaker who tried to stop Hong Kong protesters from breaking into the legislature said on Wednesday that China will likely use the vandalizing of the building as a reason to step up pressure on the territory. Democratic Party member Lam Cheuk-ting was one of at least three lawmakers - all sympathetic to the protesters - who stepped in front of them Monday as demonstrators repeatedly drove a metal cart and thrust poles into a thick window until it shattered. Hours later, protesters swarmed into the legislature, leaving a trail of destruction before police ordered them out three hours later. "After the incident, I have strong reason to believe that the central government together with the Hong Kong government will try their very best to tighten their control in Hong Kong and try to undermine the 'one country, two systems' furthermore," Lam said Wednesday. Many people in Hong Kong worry that China is chipping away at the freedoms and rights that they were guaranteed for 50 years after the then-British colony was returned to China under a "one country, two systems" framework 22 years ago this week. As hundreds of thousands marched Monday to voice these fears, a much smaller group of young protesters decided to break into the legislature, which was closed for a national holiday marking the July 1 anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China. They started with a thick glass wall, hammering it over and over with a large cart. "Please listen to me, it's very dangerous," Lam screamed at them, warning that they could face long prison sentences for their actions. Another lawmaker who stood between the cart and window was tackled by a protester, and later appeared dazed and slightly injured. Lam said that the young protesters, who have blocked streets, police headquarters and other government buildings in a series of disruptive protests in the past three weeks, have sacrificed enough. "It's time for us to try our very best to convince them not to sacrifice anymore, but some of them even told us they are well prepared to die for Hong Kong," he said Wednesday recounting the events at the site. "It's very sad. It's very sad." Lam said that the protesters felt hopeless and powerless and wanted to make noise to show the government and the outside world that they would not give up. He added that even if he did not agree with their tactics, that was the young protesters' choice. "They (young protesters) felt hopeless. They felt powerless. But they wanted to make noise to the Hong Kong government and to the international world," he said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...