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Hong Kong police arrest at least 60 people for attending a banned march on China's National Day after pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam cheers the city's 'return to stability'

  Hong Kong police have arrested at least 60 people on suspicion of unauthorised assembly on China’s National Day holiday after crowds gathe...

 Hong Kong police have arrested at least 60 people on suspicion of unauthorised assembly on China’s National Day holiday after crowds gathered on the streets of a popular shopping district chanting pro-democracy slogans.

Riot police have flooded the streets of Hong Kong to stamp out anti-government protests during China's National Day celebrations as pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam has cheered the city's 'return to stability'.

Hundreds of officers in riot gear were seen on Thursday patrolling and heckling pro-democracy activists who were attending a banned march against a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing. 

The city's heightened security comes after its Chief Executive Lam participated in a flag-raising ceremony with other senior Hong Kong and mainland officials today to celebrate the Communist regime's 71st anniversary.

Hundreds of officers in riot gear are seen on Thursday patrolling and heckling pro-democracy activists who were marching against a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing

Hundreds of officers in riot gear are seen on Thursday patrolling and heckling pro-democracy activists who were marching against a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing

Groups of officers in riot gear conducted stop-and-search operations along an expected marching route linking the prime shopping district of Causeway Bay with the administrative Admiralty district. The picture shows a protester arguing with officers in Hong Kong today

Groups of officers in riot gear conducted stop-and-search operations along an expected marching route linking the prime shopping district of Causeway Bay with the administrative Admiralty district. The picture shows a protester arguing with officers in Hong Kong today

Hundreds of officers in riot gear are seen on Thursday patrolling and heckling pro-democracy activists who were marching against a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing. A police officer displays a warning banner on China's National Day in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Hundreds of officers in riot gear are seen on Thursday patrolling and heckling pro-democracy activists who were marching against a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing. A police officer displays a warning banner on China's National Day in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong 

The heightened security comes as its leader Lam (pictured) attended a flag-raising ceremony with Chinese officials on Thuesday to celebrate the Communist regime's 71st anniversary

The heightened security comes as its leader Lam (pictured) attended a flag-raising ceremony with Chinese officials on Thuesday to celebrate the Communist regime's 71st anniversary


'Over the past three months, the plain truth is, and it is obvious to see, that stability has been restored to society while national security has been safeguarded, and our people can continue to enjoy their basic rights and freedoms,' Lam said.

As she spoke, groups of officers in riot gear conducted stop-and-search operations along an expected marching route linking the prime shopping district of Causeway Bay with the administrative Admiralty district.

Protesters wanted to march against Beijing's imposition of a sweeping national security law on June 30 and demand the return of 12 Hong Kong people China arrested at sea in August on their way to self-ruled Taiwan. 

But authorities had denied permission for a protest march this year, citing security concerns and an anti-coronavirus ban on more than four people gathering in public. 

Carrie Lam has today attended a flag-raising ceremony (pictured) with other senior Hong Kong and mainland officials to celebrate the Chinese Communist regime's 71st anniversary

Carrie Lam has today attended a flag-raising ceremony (pictured) with other senior Hong Kong and mainland officials to celebrate the Chinese Communist regime's 71st anniversary

Police officers search protesters during a banned rally on China's National Day in Hong Kong

Police officers search protesters during a banned rally on China's National Day in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is pictured attending the flag-raising ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square to mark the 71st anniversary of Chinese National Day in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is pictured attending the flag-raising ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square to mark the 71st anniversary of Chinese National Day in Hong Kong

Hundreds of officers in riot gear are seen on Thursday patrolling and heckling pro-democracy activists who were marching against a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing. Police officers put up a banner telling people to disperse during China's National Day

Hundreds of officers in riot gear are seen on Thursday patrolling and heckling pro-democracy activists who were marching against a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing. Police officers put up a banner telling people to disperse during China's National Day

At the 2pm start time of the planned illegal protest, there was little sign of crowds gathering, although streets were crammed with riot police and reporters. 

Police sent away any people who looked suspicious to them: one teenager playing protest songs into a woodwind instrument; a man dressed in black and holding a yellow balloon — colours associated with pro-democracy supporters; a woman holding a copy of the Apple Daily anti-government tabloid.

Police were seen rounding up more than 50 people downtown and binding their wrists with plexicuffs before putting them on buses. Police said in a Facebook post that they were looking for two men who threw petrol bombs to bloc traffic in another area of the city. 

Those arrested included two district councillors, police said, They added that the people were arrested after they ignored repeated warnings asking them to disperse. 

'Hong Kong people have been sad and disappointed for a year. This is meant to be a holiday and the streets are full of police,' said 52-year-old Mandy as she was shopping with her husband.

'People are in no mood to celebrate. The government is using the national security laws and the pandemic to suppress our hearts.'

Late on Wednesday, police said they had arrested five people for inciting participation in illegal assemblies online.

Police check pedestrians during China's National Day in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong today

Police check pedestrians during China's National Day in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong today

Protesters wanted to march against Beijing's imposition of a sweeping national security law on June 30. The picture shows a pro-democracy protester wearing a 'Free Tibet' T-shirt is surrounded by police during China's National Day in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on Thursday

Protesters wanted to march against Beijing's imposition of a sweeping national security law on June 30. The picture shows a pro-democracy protester wearing a 'Free Tibet' T-shirt is surrounded by police during China's National Day in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on Thursday

Anti-government protests, which often turned violent in 2019, have been smaller and fewer this year due to coronavirus restrictions on group gatherings and fears of arrest under the new security law. A young couple is stopped by police for checking during China's National Day

Anti-government protests, which often turned violent in 2019, have been smaller and fewer this year due to coronavirus restrictions on group gatherings and fears of arrest under the new security law. A young couple is stopped by police for checking during China's National Day

Anti-government protests, which often turned violent in 2019, have been smaller and fewer this year due to coronavirus restrictions on group gatherings and fears of arrest under the new security law.

The law punishes anything China considers as subversion, separatism, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and gives police and Chinese security agents broad powers。

Four members of the League of Social Democrats, led by veteran activist Leung Kwok-hung, known as Long Hair, marched holding a banner reading 'There is no national day celebration, only national mourning.' Four is the maximum number of people allowed to gather under coronavirus restrictions.

A sore point for democracy supporters has been the capture of 12 Hong Kong people by Chinese authorities, now in detention in the mainland city of Shenzhen, having been arrested for illegal border crossing and organising cross-border crimes.

Pro-democracy activists are surrounded by police officers as they march toward a flag raising ceremony in Hong Kong on China's National Day. The banner reads 'Stop One Party Ruling'

Pro-democracy activists are surrounded by police officers as they march toward a flag raising ceremony in Hong Kong on China's National Day. The banner reads 'Stop One Party Ruling'

The heightened security comes as its leader Lam has today attended a flag-raising ceremony with other senior Chinese officials to celebrate the Communist regime's 71st anniversary

The heightened security comes as its leader Lam has today attended a flag-raising ceremony with other senior Chinese officials to celebrate the Communist regime's 71st anniversary

Helicopters fly the flags of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region during a flag-raising ceremony marking China's National Day at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong

Helicopters fly the flags of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region during a flag-raising ceremony marking China's National Day at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong

All were suspected of committing crimes in Hong Kong related to last year's protests.

Their arrest has compounded the fears of many in Hong Kong about what they see as China´s determination to end any push for greater democracy in the financial hub.

The October 1 Chinese National Day is resented by many democracy supporters who say Beijing is eroding the wide-ranging liberties the former British colony was promised when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

For pro-Beijing supporters, it is an opportunity to drum up patriotism in China's most restive city.

At the flag-raising ceremony, Lam praised China's success in curbing the coronavirus and its economic recovery, calling it 'a rare bright spot' which 'has shown once again the shift of the global economic focus from the West to the East.'