The Dukling, a traditional Chinese junk boat frequently spotted around Hong Kong's picturesque Victoria Harbour, has readjusted its tour routes to survive the coronavirus pandemic, now mainly catering to local residents.

Local tourism keeps 'Symbol of Hong Kong' junk boat afloat

Hong Kong was readying for a massive <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-mass-rally-called-off-as-pro-democracy-lawmaker-arrested-in-protest-crackdown-246649">pro-democracy rally</a> Wednesday after seeing in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/chinas-taiwan-conundrum-new-year-old-challenges-189496">New Year</a> with an evening of peaceful protests that morphed into tear gas-choked clashes between hardcore demonstrators and police.

The city has been battered by more than six months of unrest with millions marching, as well as confrontations in which police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets, while protesters have responded with petrol bombs.

Thousands gathered before midnight across the financial hub, including along Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-braces-for-mass-rally-over-weekend-after-halloween-clashes-259185">Lan Kwai Fong</a>.

Protesters at the harbourfront counted down chanting "Ten! Nine! Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now!" as they lit up their phones.

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Smaller crowds in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades before riot police unleashed 2020's first volleys of tear gas in response.

Police had also used water cannon to disperse protesters in the same area, and in nearby Prince, Edward officers arrested several protesters staging a candlelight vigil.

Earlier in the evening, thousands of people linked arms in human chains that stretched for miles along busy shopping streets and through local neighborhoods.

They chanted slogans, sang "Glory to Hong Kong" a protest anthem and held up posters calling for people to fight for democracy in 2020.

"Thanks to 2019, which tore off the ugly masks of the police and the government and let the people see the truth," said protester Kris, a medic who joined the protest.

"The movement is kind of like at its bottleneck now. Hopefully, a huge turnout at tomorrow's march could bring back people's passion," he added. In late November, the city's pro-democracy camp scored a landslide victory in a municipal-level vote seen as a referendum on the Beijing-backed government's handling of political unrest.

The protest movement has since become quieter but sporadic clashes have persisted.

But protesters have vowed to continue their effort to push for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability.

The Civil Human Rights Front, the chief organiser of marches, is hoping for a huge turnout at Wednesday's rally to urge the government to respond to the demands of the pro-democracy movement which includes an independent inquiry into the police, amnesty for arrestees and fully free elections.

Police have arrested nearly 6,500 people since June nearly a third of them aged under 20.

"The youngsters have sacrificed a lot for justice 2019 is a wake-up call," a 63-year-old retiree, who gave his surname as Shiu, told AFP.

"People will be more determined in the new year. People know that the future of Hong Kong depends on whether we can achieve the five demands."

The demonstrations were sparked by a now-abandoned bill to allow extraditions to the authoritarian mainland, but have since evolved into a popular revolt against Beijing's control the biggest crisis since the former British colony's return to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hong Kong was readying for a massive pro-democracy rally Wednesday after seeing in the New Year with an evening of peaceful protests that morphed into tear gas-choked clashes between hardcore demonstrators and police.

Hong Kong was readying for a massive pro-democracy rally Wednesday after seeing in the New Year with an evening of peaceful protests that morphed into tear gas-choked clashes between hardcore demonstrators and police. The city has been battered by more than six months of unrest with millions marching, as well as confrontations in which police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets, while protesters have responded with petrol bombs. Thousands gathered before midnight across the financial hub, including along Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot Lan Kwai Fong. Protesters at the harbourfront counted down chanting "Ten! Nine! Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now!" as they lit up their phones. Smaller crowds in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades before riot police unleashed 2020's first volleys of tear gas in response. Police had also used water cannon to disperse protesters in the same area, and in nearby Prince, Edward officers arrested several protesters staging a candlelight vigil. Earlier in the evening, thousands of people linked arms in human chains that stretched for miles along busy shopping streets and through local neighborhoods. They chanted slogans, sang "Glory to Hong Kong" a protest anthem and held up posters calling for people to fight for democracy in 2020. "Thanks to 2019, which tore off the ugly masks of the police and the government and let the people see the truth," said protester Kris, a medic who joined the protest. "The movement is kind of like at its bottleneck now. Hopefully, a huge turnout at tomorrow's march could bring back people's passion," he added. In late November, the city's pro-democracy camp scored a landslide victory in a municipal-level vote seen as a referendum on the Beijing-backed government's handling of political unrest. The protest movement has since become quieter but sporadic clashes have persisted. But protesters have vowed to continue their effort to push for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability. The Civil Human Rights Front, the chief organiser of marches, is hoping for a huge turnout at Wednesday's rally to urge the government to respond to the demands of the pro-democracy movement which includes an independent inquiry into the police, amnesty for arrestees and fully free elections. Police have arrested nearly 6,500 people since June nearly a third of them aged under 20. "The youngsters have sacrificed a lot for justice 2019 is a wake-up call," a 63-year-old retiree, who gave his surname as Shiu, told AFP. "People will be more determined in the new year. People know that the future of Hong Kong depends on whether we can achieve the five demands." The demonstrations were sparked by a now-abandoned bill to allow extraditions to the authoritarian mainland, but have since evolved into a popular revolt against Beijing's control the biggest crisis since the former British colony's return to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hong Kong readies for New Year democracy rally

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-unrest-police-arrest-15-in-fresh-shopping-mall-protests-270781">Hong Kong garrison</a> carried out air and sea exercises, according to state-run CCTV.

The drills which included emergency deployment, joint force delivery and joint patrolling was posted in the military channel, reports said.

The military exercise comes even as Hong Kong has been gripped by months of violence on the streets with protesters demanding more accountability from the government. On Monday, Hong Kong police appealed for an end to violence asserting that citizens were fed up with the social unrest and longed for peace and stability.

"We appeal to the organiser and participants to remain calm and rational. Let us kick start 2020 with peace and get Hong Kong back on the right track," Hong Kong police Public Relations chief, Kwok Ka-Chuen said amid reports of renewed violence in the new year.

Reports indicate Hong is set for multiple protests in the New Year starting Tuesday in several areas including Lan Kwai Fong, Victoria Harbour and in popular shopping malls.

The police have already given permission for a pro-democracy march on January 1. Authorities said they would deploy crowd control patrols while urging citizens to be peaceful.

Police Commissioner Chris Tang said: "If you use violence, you will not get public support. We, police, will do all we can to arrest you."

The police have already arrested several hundred protesters in the past months with no indication of end to the current cycle of violence.

On Sunday, at least one thousand people took part in a rally despite the rains wearing black masks to hide their identities. On Saturday, riot police had arrested several protesters and used pepper spray to break up the gathering as clashes continued in the city.

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong garrison carried out air and sea exercises, according to state-run CCTV. The drills which included emergency deployment, joint force delivery and joint patrolling was posted in the military channel, reports said.

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong garrison carried out air and sea exercises, according to state-run CCTV. The drills which included emergency deployment, joint force delivery and joint patrolling was posted in the military channel, reports said. The military exercise comes even as Hong Kong has been gripped by months of violence on the streets with protesters demanding more accountability from the government. On Monday, Hong Kong police appealed for an end to violence asserting that citizens were fed up with the social unrest and longed for peace and stability. "We appeal to the organiser and participants to remain calm and rational. Let us kick start 2020 with peace and get Hong Kong back on the right track," Hong Kong police Public Relations chief, Kwok Ka-Chuen said amid reports of renewed violence in the new year. Reports indicate Hong is set for multiple protests in the New Year starting Tuesday in several areas including Lan Kwai Fong, Victoria Harbour and in popular shopping malls. The police have already given permission for a pro-democracy march on January 1. Authorities said they would deploy crowd control patrols while urging citizens to be peaceful. Police Commissioner Chris Tang said: "If you use violence, you will not get public support. We, police, will do all we can to arrest you." The police have already arrested several hundred protesters in the past months with no indication of end to the current cycle of violence. On Sunday, at least one thousand people took part in a rally despite the rains wearing black masks to hide their identities. On Saturday, riot police had arrested several protesters and used pepper spray to break up the gathering as clashes continued in the city.

China's army in Hong Kong carries out air, sea exercises: Report

A Hong Kong court rejected on Sunday a challenge to an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-metro-system-partially-reopens-as-city-braces-for-further-protests-253992">emergency law criminalising protesters wearing face masks</a> as democracy activists hit the streets again in defiance of the ban despite half the city's subway stations remaining closed.

Thousands of protesters have staged unsanctioned flashmob rallies across the strife-torn city -- some vandalising subway stations and shops -- after Hong Kong's leader outlawed face coverings at protests, invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century.

Pro-democracy lawmakers went to the High Court on Sunday seeking an emergency injunction against the ban, arguing the emergency powers bypassed the legislature and contravened the city's mini-constitution.

But a senior judge dismissed their injunction demand.

As the ruling was being delivered, two unsanctioned rallies were kicking off on both sides of Victoria Harbour, with thousands of masked protesters gathering in torrential downpours.

After four months of huge and increasingly violent protests, the city's unelected pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam invoked a sweeping colonial-era law on Friday allowing her to make "any regulations whatsoever" during a time of public danger.

She used it to ban masks -- which protesters have used to hide their identity or protect from tear gas -- and warned she would use the powers to make new regulations if the unrest did not abate.

The move was welcomed by government supporters and Beijing.

But opponents and protesters saw it as the start of a slippery slope tipping the international finance hub into authoritarianism.

"I would say this is one of the most important constitutional cases in the history of Hong Kong," lawmaker Dennis Kwok told reporters before the ruling.

"If this emergency law just gets a pass just like that Hong Kong will be deemed into a very black hole," he added, previously likening Lam to the autocratic English monarch Henry VIII.

Two teen protesters shot

Hong Kong has been battered a summer of rage as widespread public anger seethes over Chinese rule and the police response to protests.

The rallies were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions to the mainland, which fuelled fears of an erosion of liberties promised under the 50-year "one country, two systems" model China agreed ahead of the 1997 handover by Britain.

After Beijing and local leaders took a hard line, the demonstrations snowballed into a wider movement calling for more democratic freedoms and police accountability.

Lam has refused major concessions but struggled to come up with any political solution, leaving police and demonstrators to fight increasingly violent battles as the city tips into recession.

The worst clashes to date erupted on Tuesday as China celebrated 70 years of Communist Party rule, with a teenager shot and wounded by police as he attacked an officer.

A 14-year-old boy was then shot and wounded Friday night when a plainclothes police officer, who was surrounded by a mob of protesters throwing petrol bombs, fired his sidearm.&nbsp;

That night, masked protesters went on a rampage in dozens of locations, trashing subway stations and businesses with mainland China ties.

The city's subway system -- which carries four million people daily -- was shut down entirely Friday night and throughout Saturday, bringing much of the metropolis to a halt.

Major supermarket chains and malls announced they were closing, leading to long lines and panic buying.

Thousands of masked protesters still came out onto the streets throughout Saturday despite the mask ban and transport gridlock, although the crowds were smaller than recent rallies.

Subway partially reopens

On Sunday, the subway operator said 45 stations would open but 48 remained shuttered, many of them in the heart of the city's main tourist districts as well as those areas hit hardest by the protests and vandalism.

Lam has defended her use of the emergency powers and said that she is willing to issue more executive orders if the violence continues.

"We cannot allow rioters any more to destroy our treasured Hong Kong," Lam said in a stony-faced video statement on Saturday.

But protesters have vowed to keep hitting the streets.

"The anti-face mask law is the first step," Hosun Lee, a protester in Causeway Bay, told AFP, saying he feared more laws under the emergency order were on the way.

Protester demands include an independent inquiry into the police, an amnesty for the more than 2,000 people arrested and universal suffrage -- all requests rejected by Lam and Beijing.

A Hong Kong court rejected on Sunday a challenge to an emergency law criminalising protesters wearing face masks as democracy activists hit the streets again in defiance of the ban despite half the city's subway stations remaining closed.

A Hong Kong court rejected on Sunday a challenge to an emergency law criminalising protesters wearing face masks as democracy activists hit the streets again in defiance of the ban despite half the city's subway stations remaining closed. Thousands of protesters have staged unsanctioned flashmob rallies across the strife-torn city -- some vandalising subway stations and shops -- after Hong Kong's leader outlawed face coverings at protests, invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century. Pro-democracy lawmakers went to the High Court on Sunday seeking an emergency injunction against the ban, arguing the emergency powers bypassed the legislature and contravened the city's mini-constitution. But a senior judge dismissed their injunction demand. As the ruling was being delivered, two unsanctioned rallies were kicking off on both sides of Victoria Harbour, with thousands of masked protesters gathering in torrential downpours. After four months of huge and increasingly violent protests, the city's unelected pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam invoked a sweeping colonial-era law on Friday allowing her to make "any regulations whatsoever" during a time of public danger. She used it to ban masks -- which protesters have used to hide their identity or protect from tear gas -- and warned she would use the powers to make new regulations if the unrest did not abate. The move was welcomed by government supporters and Beijing. But opponents and protesters saw it as the start of a slippery slope tipping the international finance hub into authoritarianism. "I would say this is one of the most important constitutional cases in the history of Hong Kong," lawmaker Dennis Kwok told reporters before the ruling. "If this emergency law just gets a pass just like that Hong Kong will be deemed into a very black hole," he added, previously likening Lam to the autocratic English monarch Henry VIII. Two teen protesters shot Hong Kong has been battered a summer of rage as widespread public anger seethes over Chinese rule and the police response to protests. The rallies were ignited by a now-scrapped plan to allow extraditions to the mainland, which fuelled fears of an erosion of liberties promised under the 50-year "one country, two systems" model China agreed ahead of the 1997 handover by Britain. After Beijing and local leaders took a hard line, the demonstrations snowballed into a wider movement calling for more democratic freedoms and police accountability. Lam has refused major concessions but struggled to come up with any political solution, leaving police and demonstrators to fight increasingly violent battles as the city tips into recession. The worst clashes to date erupted on Tuesday as China celebrated 70 years of Communist Party rule, with a teenager shot and wounded by police as he attacked an officer. A 14-year-old boy was then shot and wounded Friday night when a plainclothes police officer, who was surrounded by a mob of protesters throwing petrol bombs, fired his sidearm. That night, masked protesters went on a rampage in dozens of locations, trashing subway stations and businesses with mainland China ties. The city's subway system -- which carries four million people daily -- was shut down entirely Friday night and throughout Saturday, bringing much of the metropolis to a halt. Major supermarket chains and malls announced they were closing, leading to long lines and panic buying. Thousands of masked protesters still came out onto the streets throughout Saturday despite the mask ban and transport gridlock, although the crowds were smaller than recent rallies. Subway partially reopens On Sunday, the subway operator said 45 stations would open but 48 remained shuttered, many of them in the heart of the city's main tourist districts as well as those areas hit hardest by the protests and vandalism. Lam has defended her use of the emergency powers and said that she is willing to issue more executive orders if the violence continues. "We cannot allow rioters any more to destroy our treasured Hong Kong," Lam said in a stony-faced video statement on Saturday. But protesters have vowed to keep hitting the streets. "The anti-face mask law is the first step," Hosun Lee, a protester in Causeway Bay, told AFP, saying he feared more laws under the emergency order were on the way. Protester demands include an independent inquiry into the police, an amnesty for the more than 2,000 people arrested and universal suffrage -- all requests rejected by Lam and Beijing.

Hong Kong court rejects mask ban challenge as fresh protests break out