Hong Kong protest at Brisbane university turns violent when pro-Beijing students attack

A group of students protesting China’s dominance in Hong Kong has been attacked by pro-Beijing supporters at a Brisbane university.

A group staging a peaceful sit-in to protest mainland China’s increasing dominance in Hong Kong and human rights abuses faced an attack from hundreds of pro-Beijing students — not in the New Territories, but in Brisbane.

Police were called to The University of Queensland today after a violent clash erupted between two groups at about 1pm.

Journalism student Nilsson Jones told news.com.au that trouble began roughly an hour after some 50 pro-Hong Kong and anti-Beijing demonstrators arrived at a coffee shop on campus.

“They were sitting outside one of the main coffee shops on campus, holding some signs, and it was all pretty low energy,” Mr Jones said.

“A bunch of Chinese students rocked up and things escalated. They had speakers and started blasting the Chinese national anthem and some Communist Party propaganda songs. They were chanting, that sort of thing.

“A few Chinese students ran over and grabbed signs and ripped them up and things went from there. There was a lot of pushing and shoving.”

Just a few security guards stood between the two groups of roughly 300 people, he said.

“I saw some of the anti-CCP (Chinese Community Party) organisers being punched and shoved onto the ground. I saw someone smash a drink against someone’s head and a security guard was bitten by one of the (pro-Beijing) protesters.”

Pro-Beijing students attack participants at a Hong Kong demonstration at The University of Queensland. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Pro-Beijing students attack participants at a Hong Kong demonstration at The University of Queensland. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Mr Jones was manning a stall at the university’s weekly market day for the journalism and communications students’ society when the brawl erupted.

“I just pulled out my phone and started recording the madness that followed,” he said. “It was a pretty wild day at uni.”

Police arrived and separated the two groups at about 2pm, he said, and the pro-Hong Kong contingent left the area and congregated at a grassy area nearby to continue their peaceful protest.

Chinese students have regrouped. Heavy police and media presence now #uqprotest pic.twitter.com/aoMA8GWBNI

— Nilsson Jones (@nilssonjones_) July 24, 2019

“About an hour later the pro-China protesters regrouped and returned at the height of it were maybe 300 strong. They surrounded them and brought out the speaker and megaphone again.

“They were chanting demanding an apology or they wouldn’t leave. They were chanting ‘UQ apologise’.”

Pro-Beijing students attack participants at a Hong Kong demonstration at The University of Queensland. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Pro-Beijing students attack participants at a Hong Kong demonstration at The University of Queensland. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Police were called and once again restored order at about 4pm.

In a statement, The University of Queensland said its role was to facilitate “open, respectful and lawful free speech, including debate about ideas we may not all support or agree with”.

But it upheld an expectation that students and staff express views in a lawful and respectful manner, it said.

“Earlier today, in response to safety concerns resulting from a student-initiated protest on campus, the University requested police support,” a spokesperson said.

“On the advice of police, protesters were requested to move on. The safety of all students is paramount to the University.”