Protesters have stormed Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (LegCo) building and are occupying the council’s chamber.
Hundreds of demonstrators forced their way into the building by smashing through doors and steel shutters.
The group are a breakaway part of a peaceful protest involving hundreds of thousands of people on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.
It is the latest in a series of protests against a controversial bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China.
Image copyright Reuters The group of breakaway protesters smashed their way into the LegCo building.
Image copyright EPA Many were wearing hard hats, face masks and glasses.
Image copyright EPA Images from inside LegCo show protesters smashing up the chamber building and flying both the union jack and colonial flag.
Image copyright Reuters Once they entered the chamber, the Hong Kong emblem was spray painted black and a colonial Hong Kong flag was placed on the seat of the legislature’s president.
Image copyright AFP Hong Kong is a former British colony and has been part of China since 1997 under a “one country, two systems” deal. Pro-democracy events are held every year on the anniversary of the handover.
However, the anniversary this year comes in the midst of protests against the extradition bill.
Image copyright AFP The Hong Kong emblem in the LegCo building was spray painted black (above).
Image copyright EPA Protesters also sprayed slogans onto the walls of the chamber building.
Image copyright EPA Portraits of some legislative council members were damaged and ripped from the walls. The outside walls of the building were also daubed with graffiti.
Image copyright AFP Protesters then left the building after police warned that they would “take reasonable force” to remove them from the area.
Image copyright AFP Tear gas was fired at the protesters who chose to stay in the area.
Image copyright EPA All images copyright.
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