Hundreds arrested, protesters gassed at pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong

In the wake of new anti-democracy laws being implemented in Hong Kong, protesters took to the streets, but were quickly arrested.

Protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong on Wednesday with hundreds arrested after controversial new laws were imposed late on Tuesday night.

The protesters crowded the Causeway Bay shopping district while heavily armed riot police fired on them with pepper spray and high-powered water cannons.

Video of the demonstration showed protesters and journalists with visible credentials being blown from their feet by water cannons fired from the top of armoured vehicles which were riding through the streets.

The new laws, which pro-democracy advocates say have stripped the semi-autonomous nation of many of its previous civil freedoms, have been staunchly opposed by protesters and critics for months.

The legislation allows authorities in mainland China to have dramatic new power to investigate, extradite and punish Hong Kong citizens who allegedly dissent.

At the Wednesday protest, around 370 demonstrators were arrested by Hong Kong Police who alleged officers had been attacked with weapons and “condemned” the violence.

A man is detained in protests in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Picture: Dale De La Rey/AFP

Police said they arrested 370 people during the demonstrations on Wednesday. Picture: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Protesters chant slogans with their hands up. Picture: Dale De La Rey/AFP

Police walk past a burning barricade set up by protesters. Picture: Anthony Wallace/AFP

Riot police detain a man after protesters were cleared from a rally area. Picture: Dale De La Rey/AFP

One journalist taking photos outside a 7 Eleven was blown off her feet by a water cannon, while another journalist, Chermaine Lee, wearing credentials from CNN was tear gassed with a group of people in Causeway Bay.

Police blast journalist with water cannon in Hong Kong pic.twitter.com/JRFAajymVf

— Hoodsite (@hoodsite2) July 1, 2020

#breaking Hong Kong police have just fired pepper spray into a crowd that is assembled in Causeway Bay. Journalist @chermainelee22 who is on our @cnn team, was hit. I know from experience, it feels absolutely dreadful. But she’ll be ok. pic.twitter.com/PmiDXdmpk3

— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) July 1, 2020

Police said 10 of the people arrested had violated the new national security laws, including one rioter who allegedly stabbed an officer with a dagger.

RELATED: World reacts to China’s Hong Kong national security legislation

#BREAKING: Around 370 arrests, including 10 (6M&4F) for breaching #NationalSecurityLaw, have been made today. A total of 7 officers were injured on duty. Among the serious injuries, one was stabbed by a rioter with a dagger and three were hit by a rioter driving a motorcylce.

— Hong Kong Police Force (@hkpoliceforce) July 1, 2020

Heated, wide-scale protests have raged in Hong Kong since midway through last year but failed to halt the implementation of the national security bill, which, now passed, has effectively deemed new demonstrations threats to Hong Kong’s national security.

According to critics, the new laws have tightened China’s grip of power over the region, and symbolise the sealing of authoritarian rule over the previously free financial hub.

The new National Security Laws came into effect in Hong Kong on July 1. It is a symbolic date for Hong Kong, marking the 23rd anniversary of the date Hong Kong’s sovereignty was returned from the United Kingdom to China.