Hong Kong Protests Turn Violent: Reuters

After 11 weeks, mostly peaceful protests in Hong Kong have turned into violent with petrol bombs, destruction of surveillance cameras and injuries. Police responded with water cannons, teargas, gunfire and more than 80 arrests. The protests began in June over an extradition bill allowing Hong Kong people to be sent to China for trial. “But the demonstrations have evolved over 12 straight weeks into a broad demand for greater democracy in the financial hub that was promised a high degree of autonomy under a ‘one country, two systems’ formula when it was handed to China by colonial ruler Britain in 1997,” reports Reuters. The standoff is disrupting Asia’s financial center. China has pressured employers to suspend staff who support the protests with warnings of damage to the economy and possible intervention. Meanwhile tourism is down, conferences are canceled, and banks issue profit warnings. – YaleGlobal