HK COPS DEPLOYED EN MASSE TO DETER PROTEST ON COMMUNIST PARTY CENTENARY

Police deployed in the streets of Hong Kong in large numbers on Thursday to prevent protests on the anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, and its acting leader said a national security law had brought order back to the city after chaos, Sara Cheng, James Pomfret, Jessie Pang, and Anne Marie Roantree reported for Reuters.

Police vans, water cannon trucks, armored vehicles, and police units patrolled the streets. Passersby were stopped and searched, with 11 people arrested in the Mong Kok district for allegedly distributing "seditious" leaflets.

Parts of Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island - where an annual civil society and pro-democracy march normally kicks off - were shut down to prevent any public processions or meetings from taking place, and all other public assemblies banned by police, citing COVID-19 restrictions.

Hong Kong's acting leader John Lee said in a speech the authorities would continue to take a "steady stance" to protect national security, and that the city had returned to order after a period of chaos.

"Hong Kong absolutely has the conditions to rebound," he said. Beijing imposed the security law on June 30 last year to punish anything China deems as subversion, secession, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.

The security law was Beijing's first major step to put the global financial hub onto an authoritarian path, kick-starting a campaign dubbed "patriots rule Hong Kong," which included moves to reduce democratic representation in the city's legislature and various screening mechanisms for politicians.

"On the day of July 1, I am nothing more than one of tens of thousands of Hong Kongers who want their voices heard," tweeted pro-democracy campaigner and barrister Chow Hang-tung, who was re-arrested on the eve of the sensitive anniversary.

"They want to kill the monkey to scare the chicken, then we must let them know Hong Kongers won't give up."

Beijing said it was necessary after mass pro-democracy and anti-China protests in 2019 that have been described as acts endangering national security.

Many protesters, however, say they were demanding Beijing respect constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms.

WEEKLY FEATURE : PAL READY TO SOAR WITH PANDEMIC