Pro-democracy protesters crouch amid tear gas during clashes with police on September 29, 2019 in Hong Kong. Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesThere’s an excited atmosphere in Beijing as people wait for the parade to kick off — but in Hong Kong, things are a bit more tense.
The past few days have been marked with violence as pro-democracy protesters clash with riot police. Events like the fireworks show, originally planned for this evening, have been canceled for safety concerns.
At a police press conference on Monday, police officials said protesters had thrown as many as 100 petrol bombs over the past two days.
“We are on the verge of extreme danger,” said a police official. “All acts are one step closer to terrorism. We are deeply concerned about public safety tomorrow and we express the strongest condemnation against all criminal and violent acts.”
Planned demonstrations: Hong Kong protesters have planned a series of protests in six different districts across the city, as well as a mass march that has been denied approval by the police — making it an unlawful assembly. Most of the demonstrations aren’t scheduled to happen until after noon.
China’s response: Chinese officials have strongly condemned the protests before — and in Beijing, civilians are also taking a critical stance.
“They won’t succeed,” said Qingshan Wang, a retired entrepreneur, in Beijing on Monday. “They are just a bunch of ignorant young people. They don’t know about China and don’t understand China. Betray your own country, what kind of good result you will end up with?
“They are influenced by anti-China forces. If you are against the great China, do you think you will end up well? … If you don’t even love your country, what you can achieve? You at least should love your own country.”