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China Flexes Muscle Near Hong Kong 08/17 09:08
SHENZHEN, China (AP) -- Members of China's paramilitary People's Armed
Police marched and practiced crowd control tactics at a sports complex in
Shenzhen across from Hong Kong in what some interpreted as a threat against
pro-democracy protesters in the semi-autonomous territory.
The sound of marching boots and synchronized shouts echoed from the grounds
on Friday. Officers in green camouflage stood guard at closed entrances. A
stadium security guard said "it wasn't clear" when the paramilitary police
would leave the grounds.
Chinese state media have only said that the Shenzhen exercises were planned
earlier and were not directly related to the unrest in Hong Kong, though they
came shortly after the central government in Beijing said the protests were
beginning to show the "sprouts of terrorism."
From a distance, police could be seen conducting drills in military
fatigues, using shields, poles and other riot-control gear. In one exercise,
two groups marched in formation with those in front raising shields as if to
protect themselves from projectiles. Others behind held red flags and banners.
The words "the law" and "prosecuted" could be seen on one.
Outside, dozens of armored carriers and trucks sat in the parking lot of the
Shenzhen Bay Stadium, close to a bridge linking mainland China to Hong Kong.
Asked if Hong Kong police could maintain order or if mainland Chinese
intervention is becoming inevitable, Hong Kong police commander Yeung Man-pun
said that while they face tremendous pressure, "I can tell you we're confident
the police have the capability to maintain law and order."
Germany, meanwhile, said it considers China to be a responsible actor that
will respect Hong Kong laws guaranteeing freedom of speech and rule of law.
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday that Hong Kong's 1997 Basic
Law, under which the city was promised a high degree of autonomy when the
former British colony returned to China, "is a Chinese law, and as such we
naturally expect that the People's Republic of China, too, won't call into
question the peaceful exercise of these rights."
Weeks of protests in Hong Kong have been marked by increasing violence and a
shutdown of the Hong Kong airport earlier this week. The demonstrators are
demanding expanded political rights and the scrapping of legislation that could
have seen criminal suspects sent to mainland China.
A weekend of protests began Friday night with a university student-led
"power to the people" rally in Chater Garden, a public square in the financial
district.
A pro-democracy march is planned for Saturday along with a separate
pro-government "Save Hong Kong" rally, ahead of a major pro-democracy rally
called for Sunday. Police have denied permission for the march on Sunday, but
protesters have ignored such denials in the past.
China has pressured foreign and Hong Kong companies to support the ruling
Communist Party's position against the protesters.
The CEO of Cathay Pacific Airways, one of Hong Kong's most prominent
companies, resigned Friday following pressure by Beijing on the carrier over
participation by some of its employees in the anti-government protests.
Cathay Pacific said Rupert Hogg resigned "to take responsibility" following
"recent events."
The company chairman, John Slosar, said in a statement the airline needed
new management because events had "called into question" its commitment to
safety and security.
On Monday, Hogg threatened employees with "disciplinary consequences" if
they took part in "illegal protests.'
Last week, China's aviation regulator said Cathay Pacific employees who
"support or take part in illegal protests, violent actions, or overly radical
behavior" are banned from staffing flights to mainland China.
On Friday morning, Frenchman Alain Robert, who has been dubbed "spiderman"
for his unauthorized climbs of skyscrapers, hung a banner appealing for peace
as he scaled the 62-story Cheung Kong Center, a landmark Hong Kong building
that is the base for property tycoon Li Ka-shing's business empire.
The banner showed the Chinese and Hong Kong flags over a handshake and a
small yellow sun with a smiley face.
"The banner is to give joy and smile to the people of Hong Kong," he told
the AP as he sat in a taxi about to leave for his climb. He added that he
didn't want to get "mixed up in the political situation."
Robert, 57, was taken to a police station afterward. It wasn't immediately
clear if he would be charged. He was banned in 2017 from returning to Hong Kong
for one year after climbing another building.
(KR)
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