Hong Kong police fire tear gas on biggest protests since COVID curbs

HONG KONG - Hong Kong police fired tear gas and pepper spray to disperse thousands protesting on Sunday against Beijing’s plan to directly impose national security laws on the city, the biggest flare-up in the city since COVID-19 lockdowns began.

The demonstrations come amid concerns over the fate of the "one country, two systems" formula that has governed Hong Kong since the former UK colony's return to Chinese rule in 1997. The arrangement guarantees the city broad freedoms not seen on the mainland, including a free press and independent judiciary.

Police conducted stop-and-search operations in Causeway Bay and warned people not to violate a ban on gatherings of more than eight, imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus. China has dismissed other countries' complaints about the proposed legislation as "meddling," saying the proposed laws are necessary and will not harm Hong Kong autonomy or foreign investors. "These radical claims and illegal violence are extremely worrying," Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said in a blog post, referring to a backlash against the proposed laws as well as anti-government protests that roiled the city for months from June last year.

Some local commentators have described the proposal as "a nuclear option" that is part of Chinese President Xi's high-stakes power play.

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