10/12/2019, 11.23
HONG KONG - CHINA
Send to a friend

Hong Kong, one-third of the protesters arrested are under 18 years old

by Paul Wang

There are 750 young people, 104 of whom are under 16 years old.  The government has also released data on the destruction carried out by radical groups on the streets and in the Hong Kong subway.  Xinhua lays the blame at the failure of the Hong Kong education system.

 

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - In the last four months of demonstrations against the extradition law in China, about one-third of those arrested are young people under the age of 18.  Government Secretary General Matthew Cheung Kin-chung told the South China Morning Post, calling the data "shocking" and "heartbreaking". 

The demonstrations that started in June against the law - withdrawn after three months - have grown as a pro-democratic movement continues its call for a response to "five demands", including an independent investigation into police violence and the implementation of universal suffrage for  elections in parliament and in choosing the chief executive.

The government's unwillingness to be moved on these issues has pushed fringes of demonstrators to acts of vandalism and to clashes with security forces of the order of ever increasing intensity.

Matthew Cheung said that of 2379 arrested so far, 750 are under the age of 18 and 104 of them are under the age of 16.

The government also gave figures of damage and destruction caused by the most radical groups of the movement: 42 km of road railings;  2600 square meters of sidewalks pavement;  a fifth of the traffic lights in the city. Added to these are added damage to subway stations: 2400 punching machines;  900 security cameras, hitting 83 stations out of 94.

On October 5, the government passed a security law that prohibits people from covering their face in public.  Many young people, fearful of face recognition by the police and to save themselves from tear gas and pepper sprays used by the police, have taken the habit of wearing masks in demonstrations and even at school.

Many boys and girls in junior and high schools participate in demonstrations in the city center and around their schools.  Local teachers have been criticized by China because they do nothing to stop them.  According to Xinhua, this shows the failure of the Hong Kong educational model.  For the Beijing government agency, the young Tsang Chi-kin, wounded in the chest by the police in early October, should be expelled from school.  The young man is accused of revolt and assault against two policemen.

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
Hong Kong, cerebral hemorrhage for a young demonstrator. Maybe hit by the police
09/10/2019 14:05
Kowloon: Protest leader Jimmy Sham attacked with hammers and wrenches
17/10/2019 09:37
Faces covered, Hong Kong protests enter week 18
07/10/2019 09:12
Hong Kong, October 1, a "day of mourning"
01/10/2019 12:14
US law on Hong Kong: symbolic but with a disruptive effect
05/12/2019 09:12


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”