Flights canceled, major roads blocked as Hong Kong protests escalate

A huge day of protests: People are striking and protesting across seven districts of Hong Kong in the most ambitious and wide-ranging day of demonstrations this summer.
Strikes across all sectors: With strikers including teachers, aviation workers, finance employees and civil servants, major sectors of the Asian financial hub are likely to screech to a halt today.
Tear gas fired: Riot police have fired tear gas at five different locations, as clashes with protesters intensify.
Summer of discontent: This is Hong Kong's ninth consecutive week of protests. They started in early June over a now-suspended extradition bill, but demands have evolved to include greater democracy and police accountability.



Amnesty International condemns alleged sexual assault of a female Hong Kong protester


Amnesty International condemned the alleged sexual assault of a female Hong Kong protester by the police on Sunday night, according to a statement.

"We condemn the police's brutality and disproportionate use of force in handling the subdued protester. The female protester's clothing was pulled up, exposing her private parts,” it said.
When asked about the incident earlier on Monday, senior superintendent from Police Public Relations Branch, Yolanda Yu, said “the woman was wearing a dress and she struggled strongly, which explained what happened in front of the camera.”

Amnesty International rebutted the police’s explanation, saying that “protesters' clothing is not an excuse for the police's sexual violence.”

The protester has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer.

Amnesty International cautioned that her arrest should be conducted by female officers in order to “safeguard the rights and dignity of the woman under arrest.”

Hong Kong police said they initially had three female officers attempt to arrest the woman but because she struggled so much, they had to get reinforcement from additional male officers.

Protesters are moving rapidly between districts. One group of demonstrators is now in Sham Shui Po -- a heavily populated area at the northern end of Kowloon that is one of the city's poorest districts.

Compared to the glitz and glamor of Hong Kong Island, Sham Shui Po is populated mostly by working-class people.

Hundreds of protesters have set up barricades on the roads leading to Sham Shui Po police station.

Officers have already fired tear gas in an effort to move the protesters on.