Activists from pro-democracy party Demosisto were pulled away by security officers and injured during the National Day flag-raising ceremony on Sunday morning.
According to the party, three members were spat on by pro-China supporters during the ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.
Chau Man-chung, one of the party members, was injured on his finger and arm. Another member – Liu Wai-lim- fell to the ground and hit his head at one point.
In a statement, the party said: “As Hong Kong gradually becomes an authoritarian society, what we need is not more whitewashing or blind recognition of the country’s systems, but to be alert regarding our political, judicial and societal systems, and resistance towards one that is unfair and unjust.”
The League of Social Democrats also attempted to march to the site but was not able to reach the ceremony.
They said the high degree of autonomy promised by China for Hong Kong was a “laughable scam,” akin to the “Chinese people have stood up” – referencing a quote by Chairman Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949.
“After the Chinese Communist Party took power, it took all measures to suppress the people to protect its special privilege, creating a one-party state to strip the people of their basic freedoms,” said “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, a former lawmaker of the party.
“The Hong Kong government is using all its power to persecute the leaders of the Umbrella Movement – it is merely following the nature of its master, the Chinese Communist Party,” he added. “The enslavement of people since 1949 could be the future for Hong Kong people.”
“There is no celebration for the country until the people are in power.”
They urged the release of jailed Chinese activists, human rights lawyers, and the widow of Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam cited words from Chinese President Xi Jinping from his visit three months ago, during her speech at the National Day celebrations.
“The continuous development and growing prosperity of our country not only gives Hong Kong strength to rise to challenges, but also provides opportunities for Hong Kong to explore new directions for its development, and to seek new impetus as well as an expanded scope for such development,” she said.
“During the past three months, in my new capacity as the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, I have been deeply impressed by the strength bestowed upon us by our country and the immense opportunities lying before us.”
Additional reporting: Karen Cheung.
