Hong Kong marks half-year protest anniversary with huge rally

HONG KONG: Vast crowds of protesters thronged Hong Kong's streets on Sunday in a forceful display of support for the movement on its six-month anniversary, as organisers warned the city's pro-Beijing leaders they had a"last chance" to end the political crisis.

"I wanted to bring something sweet for Hong Kong's people who have lived a very difficult half year," he told AFP.Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has been battered by increasingly violent demonstrations in the starkest challenge the city has presented to Beijing since its 1997 handover from Britain. People crowd roads in the Causeway Bay area as they take part in a rally from Victoria Park to Chater Road in Hong Kong on Dec 8, 2019. through the main island on Sunday - the first time the group has been granted permission since mid-August - but they warned they would have zero tolerance for violence by radicals.

Earlier, the group's leader Jimmy Sham said the march was Lam's"last chance" to listen to the people.Hong Kong's protests are largely leaderless and organised online. They were initially sparked by a now abandoned attempt to allow extraditions to the mainland but have since morphed into a popular revolt against Beijing's rule.

Large crowds have simply ignored the bans, sparking near weekly tear gas and petrol bomb clashes that have upended Hong Kong's reputation for stability and helped tip the city into recession.Hours before the march was due to start, police displayed weapons, including a pistol and knives, they said had been found during overnight raids where eleven people were arrested.

Years of huge, peaceful democracy marches have made little headway, leading to increased radicalisation among some Hong Kong protesters and a greater willingness to embrace violent tactics.

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