Hundreds of masked assailants dressed in white have assaulted residents, protesters, journalists and a lawmaker in Yuen Long, hours after an anti-extradition law march ended.
The group used bamboo sticks and other weapons to attack people in the area and in the West Rail Line station, injuring Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, who was seen bleeding from his mouth in a social media live stream.
Police officers were not visibly present when the skirmish occurred.
The Front accused the police of failing to take actions in Yuen Long while people were being attacked and instead, unnecessarily firing tear gas at protesters in Sheung Wan.
Photo: Screenshot.
“Real thugs have attacked passersby, a journalist and a lawmaker, badly injuring them, but the police have failed to enforce the law. This has angered us greatly,” the statement read.
The group said certain “powerful authorities” have been using “thugs” to attack protesters since the 2014 pro-democracy Umbrella Movement. “Hong Kong people must unite to oppose personal violence and structural violence,” they added.
Ex-TVB journalist Ryan Lau. Photo: StandNews.
Stand News reporter Gwyneth Ho said she was left bleeding and injured with swelling at the back of the head and slight dizziness after she was attacked. Ho was sent to hospital to receive treatment.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association said a male reporter was beaten and left bleeding in his mouth.
The men also took a reporter’s TV camera and destroyed it, the press freedom watchdog said.
Kyle Bass @Jkylebass
The chinese government has sent army officers dressed in
white t-shirts and masks to assault, beat, and scare little girls,
women, and other peaceful protestors in HK. This is the way
Xi works. Watch the linked video in this HK press story.
