Hong Kong, Nov 8, 2019 (AFP)
Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests erupted into violence in June, plunging the former British colony into its most severe crisis since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
After one student protester died on Friday, here is a recap of five months of protests.
- First clashes -
In the semi-autonomous territory's biggest demonstration since 1997, more than a million people, according to organisers, march on June 9 to protest a draft government bill that would allow extradition to mainland China.
Violence erupts when pockets of protesters fight running battles with police.
A new demonstration on June 12 sees the worst clashes since the handover.
Police use tear gas, rubber bullets and batons against demonstrators. Dozens are injured and one protester dies falling from a roof.
- Two million protesters -
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam suspends work on the bill on June 15 but a demonstration the next day calls for its full withdrawal.
Organisers say two million people take part in a city of 7.3 million.
On July 1, the anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, hundreds of protesters smash their way into parliament and ransack the building.
- Authorities get tough -
On July 21, masked, stick-wielding government supporters -- suspected to be triad gangsters -- beat protesters in a train station.
July 27 and 28 see running battles between riot police and protesters.
The local authorities and Beijing toughen their stance and dozens are arrested.
On August 5 a strike brings the city to a standstill.
- Airport chaos -
Hong Kong's airport cancels flights on August 12 after being invaded by thousands of black-clad protesters.
On August 15 thousands of Chinese military personnel parade in Shenzhen, just across the border.
- First gunshot -
On August 25 police for the first time use water cannon and fire a warning shot after clashes in which protesters throw bricks and Molotov cocktails.
Several prominent democracy activists are arrested on August 30.
- Law shelved -
On September 4 Lam says the extradition bill is withdrawn, but the move is dismissed by activists.
On September 8, demonstrators march to the US consulate.
Leading activist Joshua Wong goes to Germany to rally support -- prompting an angry reaction from China -- and then to the United States.
- Violence intensifies -
September 29 sees the most intense confrontations in weeks. Police use tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon against protesters hurling rocks and petrol bombs.
On October 1, police for the first time shoot a pro-democracy protester, leaving him wounded. The violence overshadows China's celebrations of 70 years of Communist Party rule.
- Bans and heckles -
On October 4, Lam invokes emergency powers to ban protesters wearing face masks, but activists vow to defy the new law.
Lam is forced to abandon a policy speech on October 16 after heckling by opposition lawmakers.
The government on October 29 bars Wong from running in local elections. The activist accuses authorities of "political screening".
- New death -
On November 3, a man goes on a knife rampage in Hong Kong, leaving at least five people wounded. Another knife attack takes place days later, and a pro-Beijing politician is wounded.
On November 7, in the city's first such case involving a mainlander, a Chinese student arrested at a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong is sentenced to six weeks in prison for possessing an offensive weapon.
And on November 8, in the first student fatality of the protests, a Hong Kong student dies after he sustained head injuries when he fell during clashes with police five days earlier.

Sumber : AFP