Police fire tear gas as Hong Kong rings in New Year

The city has been battered by more than 6 months of unrest with marches attended by millions, as well as confrontations in which police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets -- and protesters have responded with petrol bombs.

Smaller crowds of protesters in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades, before riot police unleashed 2020's first volleys of tear gas in response. They chanted slogans, sang "Glory to Hong Kong" -- a protest anthem -- and held up posters calling for people to fight for democracy in 2020. The city's traditional New Year Eve's bumper fireworks display was canceled due to safety concerns, but a light show and smaller-scale fireworks took place instead.In late November, the city's pro-democracy camp scored a landslide victory in a municipal-level vote seen as a referendum on the Beijing-backed government's handling of political unrest.

"2019 is a remarkable and special year for every single Hongkonger," 25-year-old teacher Sam told AFP as he celebrated New Year's Eve with his family at the harbor front.

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