This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Published on July 2, 2020, thousands of Hong Kong residents defied a ban on rallies to voice opposition to the new security law imposed by Beijing.
Protesters blocked roads, and police responded with water cannon, pepper spray, and tear gas. The unrest marked the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China.
A 24-year-old man, surnamed Wong, was arrested at the airport on suspicion of wounding a police officer. He was pulled from a Cathay Pacific flight to London moments before it was due to leave the departure gate.
According to a police source, Wong was the only passenger to have purchased a ticket so late and had no check-in baggage. The flight was delayed for nearly an hour.
Police reported that seven officers were injured and over 370 people were arrested on Wednesday. The stabbed officer was attacked while trying to make an arrest.
Beijing imposed the new security law on June 30, outlawing acts of subversion, secession, terrorism, and colluding with foreign forces. Critics say the law ends Hong Kong's unique political freedoms and autonomy.
