G7 leaders meeting in France on Monday backed Hong Kong's autonomy as laid out in a 1984 agreement between Britain and China and called for calm in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/escalating-violent-acts-pushing-hong-kong-to-verge-of-very-dangerous-situation-government-245777">protest-hit city.</a>

"The G7 reaffirms the existence and the importance of the 1984 Sino-British agreement on Hong Kong and calls for avoiding violence," according to a joint statement issued in French at the end of a G7 meeting in Biarritz, southwest France.

The city has been wracked by more than <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-police-arrest-36-youngest-aged-12-after-running-battles-with-protesters-245706">two months of protests </a>over an attempt by its Beijing-backed government to pass an extradition bill which opponents saw as a huge dent in Hong Kong's autonomy.

They have since morphed into a call for greater democracy and police accountability, with youths at the forefront of demonstrations that have at times descended into clashes with security forces.

On Monday, police used water cannons to repel what they termed "extremely violent" demonstrators, following another weekend of clashes at pro-democracy rallies.

Twenty-one officers were injured during the clashes, Hong Kong police said, while dozens of protesters were arrested -- including a 12-year-old -- for unlawful assembly, possession of weapons and assaulting police.

Officials worldwide have urged Hong Kong authorities to show restraint to avoid serious violence or death.

More demonstrations are planned in the days and weeks ahead, including a rally at Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways headquarters on Wednesday to protest against perceived "white terror", a term used to describe anonymous acts that create a climate of fear.

Cathay has emerged as the biggest corporate casualty of the protests after China demanded it suspend staff involved in, or who supported, the anti-government demonstrations that have plunged the city into its biggest crisis since 1997.

Grave challenge

The protests pose the gravest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he took power in 2012, with his government keen to quell the unrest ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1.

Protesters again adopted cat-and-mouse tactics on Sunday evening, gathering then quickly dispersing, only to reappear in other places.

They also set up barricades to block some roads, following a largely peaceful rally earlier in the day.

Police said the 86 arrested people were aged 12 to 52, and they were suspected of offences including unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapons and assaulting police officers.

Twenty-one officers were injured in the violence, they said.

 
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G7 leaders meeting in France on Monday backed Hong Kong's autonomy as laid out in a 1984 agreement between Britain and China and called for calm in the protest-hit city.

G7 leaders meeting in France on Monday backed Hong Kong's autonomy as laid out in a 1984 agreement between Britain and China and called for calm in the protest-hit city. "The G7 reaffirms the existence and the importance of the 1984 Sino-British agreement on Hong Kong and calls for avoiding violence," according to a joint statement issued in French at the end of a G7 meeting in Biarritz, southwest France. The city has been wracked by more than two months of protests over an attempt by its Beijing-backed government to pass an extradition bill which opponents saw as a huge dent in Hong Kong's autonomy. They have since morphed into a call for greater democracy and police accountability, with youths at the forefront of demonstrations that have at times descended into clashes with security forces. On Monday, police used water cannons to repel what they termed "extremely violent" demonstrators, following another weekend of clashes at pro-democracy rallies. Twenty-one officers were injured during the clashes, Hong Kong police said, while dozens of protesters were arrested -- including a 12-year-old -- for unlawful assembly, possession of weapons and assaulting police. Officials worldwide have urged Hong Kong authorities to show restraint to avoid serious violence or death. More demonstrations are planned in the days and weeks ahead, including a rally at Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways headquarters on Wednesday to protest against perceived "white terror", a term used to describe anonymous acts that create a climate of fear. Cathay has emerged as the biggest corporate casualty of the protests after China demanded it suspend staff involved in, or who supported, the anti-government demonstrations that have plunged the city into its biggest crisis since 1997. Grave challenge The protests pose the gravest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he took power in 2012, with his government keen to quell the unrest ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1. Protesters again adopted cat-and-mouse tactics on Sunday evening, gathering then quickly dispersing, only to reappear in other places. They also set up barricades to block some roads, following a largely peaceful rally earlier in the day. Police said the 86 arrested people were aged 12 to 52, and they were suspected of offences including unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapons and assaulting police officers. Twenty-one officers were injured in the violence, they said.

G7 leaders back Hong Kong autonomy, call for calm

"Foreign forces" are trying to hurt China by creating chaos in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/violence-breaks-out-as-police-try-to-clear-hong-kong-protesters-225784">Hong Kong over an extradition bill </a>that has prompted mass protests in the former British colony, an official Chinese newspaper said on Monday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/why-a-million-marching-in-hong-kong-225756">Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;Why a million marching in Hong Kong?</a>

Riot police surrounded Hong Kong's parliament early on Monday after what had been a peaceful million-strong protest against the bill descended into running clashes between police and protesters.

Hundreds of thousands had jammed Hong Kong's streets earlier on Sunday to protest against the bill in the biggest demonstration in years. Many said they feared it put the city's vaunted legal independence at risk.

The China Daily said in an editorial the law was much-needed legislation.

"Any fair-minded person would deem the amendment bill a legitimate, sensible and reasonable piece of legislation that would strengthen Hong Kong's rule of law and deliver justice," it said.

"Unfortunately, some Hong Kong residents have been hoodwinked by the opposition camp and their foreign allies into supporting the anti-extradition campaign."

Some protesters in the Special Administration Region (SAR)had been misled about the changes proposed in the law, while others were trying to promote a political agenda, the English-language publication said.

"They have failed to realise that the opposition camp is using them merely as pawns in its manoeuvres to reap political gains by damaging the SAR government's credibility and reputation, or that some foreign forces are seizing the opportunity to advance their own strategy to hurt China by trying to create havoc in Hong Kong," the China Daily said.

It did not say who those foreign forces might be.

Foreign governments have expressed concern at the law, warning of the impact on Hong Kong's reputation as an international financial hub and noting that foreigners wanted in China risked getting ensnared in Hong Kong.

Human rights groups have repeatedly cited the alleged use of torture, arbitrary detentions, forced confessions and problems accessing lawyers in China.

Hong Kong officials have defended the plans, even as they raised the threshold of extraditable offences to crimes carrying penalties of seven years or more.

Another Chinese newspaper, the widely read Global Times tabloid, said on Monday that Hong Kong opposition groups and their international supporters were "politically hyping up" normal Hong Kong legislative activity.

The Hong Kong government would not back down, said the paper, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily.

"The Hong Kong SAR government and mainstream public opinion have worked hard for rule of law and righteousness, and will absolutely not give up halfway," it said in an editorial in its main Chinese-language edition.

The protests were otherwise barely mentioned in mainland China. Searches on Weibo, China's answer to Twitter, took users to reports by pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspapers, including the Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao.

BBC and CNN reports on the protest were blanked out in China, although the channels can only be viewed in high-end hotels and a small number of apartment buildings and are not available to most Chinese.

"Foreign forces" are trying to hurt China by creating chaos in Hong Kong over an extradition bill that has prompted mass protests in the former British colony, an official Chinese newspaper said on Monday.

"Foreign forces" are trying to hurt China by creating chaos in Hong Kong over an extradition bill that has prompted mass protests in the former British colony, an official Chinese newspaper said on Monday. Also Read: Why a million marching in Hong Kong? Riot police surrounded Hong Kong's parliament early on Monday after what had been a peaceful million-strong protest against the bill descended into running clashes between police and protesters. Hundreds of thousands had jammed Hong Kong's streets earlier on Sunday to protest against the bill in the biggest demonstration in years. Many said they feared it put the city's vaunted legal independence at risk. The China Daily said in an editorial the law was much-needed legislation. "Any fair-minded person would deem the amendment bill a legitimate, sensible and reasonable piece of legislation that would strengthen Hong Kong's rule of law and deliver justice," it said. "Unfortunately, some Hong Kong residents have been hoodwinked by the opposition camp and their foreign allies into supporting the anti-extradition campaign." Some protesters in the Special Administration Region (SAR)had been misled about the changes proposed in the law, while others were trying to promote a political agenda, the English-language publication said. "They have failed to realise that the opposition camp is using them merely as pawns in its manoeuvres to reap political gains by damaging the SAR government's credibility and reputation, or that some foreign forces are seizing the opportunity to advance their own strategy to hurt China by trying to create havoc in Hong Kong," the China Daily said. It did not say who those foreign forces might be. Foreign governments have expressed concern at the law, warning of the impact on Hong Kong's reputation as an international financial hub and noting that foreigners wanted in China risked getting ensnared in Hong Kong. Human rights groups have repeatedly cited the alleged use of torture, arbitrary detentions, forced confessions and problems accessing lawyers in China. Hong Kong officials have defended the plans, even as they raised the threshold of extraditable offences to crimes carrying penalties of seven years or more. Another Chinese newspaper, the widely read Global Times tabloid, said on Monday that Hong Kong opposition groups and their international supporters were "politically hyping up" normal Hong Kong legislative activity. The Hong Kong government would not back down, said the paper, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily. "The Hong Kong SAR government and mainstream public opinion have worked hard for rule of law and righteousness, and will absolutely not give up halfway," it said in an editorial in its main Chinese-language edition. The protests were otherwise barely mentioned in mainland China. Searches on Weibo, China's answer to Twitter, took users to reports by pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspapers, including the Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao. BBC and CNN reports on the protest were blanked out in China, although the channels can only be viewed in high-end hotels and a small number of apartment buildings and are not available to most Chinese.

Foreign forces, Opposition creating havoc in Hong Kong: China daily

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G7 leaders back Hong Kong autonomy, call for calm

Foreign forces, Opposition creating havoc in Hong Kong: China daily