Global Geopolitical Series: Watch out for China’s announcements on Hong Kong protests today

As the rhetoric turned harsher from the mainland, there has been a crackdown on protesters demanding the resignation of the pro-Chinese leader in Hong Kong. After weeks of mostly peaceful protest that began with a protest against the new extradition law which strengthens mainland China’s grip on its self-governed province, there have been clashes between protesters and the government forces.

Hong Kong suffered its third consecutive day of mass protests as riot police firing teargas and rubber bullets clashed with protesters in several locations throughout the city. Tens of thousands of protesters, dressed in black and armed with umbrellas and hardhats, defied police orders to keep Sunday’s rally constrained to a park in central Hong Kong and fanned out across the city in the early evening.

All eyes are focused on Beijing as a top official from Hong Kong and Macao affairs office, which happens to be China’s highest level body on the dealings with former British colony, would be holding a press conference at 3 pm local time (07:00 GMT). This would be the first official address from China since the Hong Kong protests that began 8 weeks ago.