Hong Kong conflict spills on to streets of Melbourne

Pro-Hong Kong advocates clashed with rival pro-Chinese activists in Melbourne’s CBD on Friday night and police were forced to form a wall between the groups as hundreds gathered in support of action in Hong Kong.

A supporter of the Chinese central government surrounded by protesters outside the State Library last night. Picture: AAP

Rival protesters clashed in Melbourne’s CBD last night as hundreds gathered in support of action in Hong Kong.

Police were forced to form a wall between pro-Hong Kong and pro-Chinese activists after up to 1000 people gathered outside the State Library on Swanston St.

Protesters could be seen pushing and shoving each other before officers intervened to separate the groups.

Pro-democracy advocates chanted “Free Hong Kong” as they gathered on the steps of the library, carrying signs pledging “solidarity with Hong Kong”.

They also held yellow umbrellas, a symbol of resistance that echoes back to the 2014 Hong Kong protests, and the words “Free Hong Kong” were projected on to the walls of the library.

Pro-Chinese protesters waved Chinese flags and chanted.

A reporter for the ABC claimed a cameraman was pushed amid the melee and suggested he was “attacked” by a protester.

A pro-Hong Kong protest at the State Library of Victoria. Picture: Twitter

Police turn out to monitor the protest at the State Library. Picture: Twitter

An eyewitness, who did not wish to be named, told the Herald Sun the “peaceful” pro-Hong Kong rally descended into chaos when pro-Chinese groups arrived.

“Things became tense when a large group of people carrying Chinese flags tried to interrupt the rally,” the man claimed.

“I heard them chant ‘One China’ in English many times, and they also sang their national anthem many times.”

“A few scuffles broke out, although it’s difficult to know exactly how they started.”

Victoria Police spokewoman Belinda Batty said two men were interviewed in relation to unlawful assault following the protest and released pending summons.

“No one has reported any injuries during the event,” she said.

“We respect the right of the community to express their views peacefully and lawfully but will not tolerate those who break the law or engage in antisocial or violent behaviour.”

A social media post by the rally’s organiser claimed it had been disbanded about 9pm due to “acts of violence from counter protesters”.

My impression is that many students have shown up out of curiosity but have been wrapped into pro-China counter protest out of excitment #HongKongProtests #hkprotest #Melbourne #ChinaHongKong pic.twitter.com/JztoRyIZFG

— Adam Bartley 王知义 (@AaBartley) August 16, 2019

Huge divided protest between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland students at Melbourne State library. Lot of shouting and taunting. pic.twitter.com/YBZOZGDwP8

— Adam Bartley 王知义 (@AaBartley) August 16, 2019

Things are getting heated in #melbourne at the #hongkong #protests pic.twitter.com/Y2ZaGqodNs

— Mike Monnik (@securitymeta_) August 16, 2019

Police marched into free Hong Kong protest as One China protesters came to disrupt demonstration with Chinese flag chanting One China. State Library, Melbourne pic.twitter.com/PhYnJNgVV9

— Tasnim Mahmoud Sammak (@ForPalestine__) August 16, 2019

Just walked past a big protest outside State Library Victoria in Melbourne as part of #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/0vyrsgwNEF

— Lisa Divissi (@lisadivissi) August 16, 2019

#HongKong solidarity protest happening now outside the state library in so-called #Melbourne #Australia #StandWithHongKong #PowerToThePeople pic.twitter.com/RI8PjzPXO9

— Approaching Critical (@approachingcrit) August 16, 2019

The violence in Melbourne follows months of protests in Hong Kong over plans for laws allowing extraditions to mainland China.

A similar rally took place in Sydney last night, with hundreds wearing masks and some also covering their eyes with “bloodied” bandages to symbolise a girl who was allegedly shot in the eye by police in Hong Kong on Sunday.

It comes as the Hong Kong government announced tax cuts and aid packages for more than a million residents as the 10-week protest crisis takes its toll on the one-time powerhouse of the Asian economy.

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Protesters have vowed to hold the biggest flash mob, of more than one million people, tomorrow and France’s famed “spiderman” Alain Robert scaled a skyscraper in the ­financial district to unfurl a banner “of peace”.

The territory’s financial secretary, Paul Chan, has cut this year’s official growth forecast to zero to 1 per cent, from 2 to 3 per cent, which could be the worst performance in a decade.

The local economy was already suffering due to 10 weeks of anti-government protests and the trade dispute between China and the US, which have brought business to a standstill.

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