Numbers Thin At Protest As Sick Leave Police HQ

The number of anti-extradition protesters outside police headquarters in Wan Chai appeared to be falling on Saturday morning, though a group remained at the entrance on Arsenal Street.

At around midnight paramedics had gone into the building after a number of people had said they felt unwell. Four men and nine women, some on stretchers, were taken to hospital. One was a pregnant woman and footage also showed frail and elderly people leaving.

Protesters made way for them as the paramedics were directed through the crowd. A protester also went to hospital after feeling unwell.

Earlier Demosisto leader, Joshua Wong, asked people whether they wanted to stay or go home. Those who voted on social media said the protesters should go home.

But later lawmaker Au Nok-hin announced they had scrapped the voting at the scene and it was up to individuals to decide.

Some of the protesters had been hurling abuse at officers and shouting slogans accusing them of brutality during the June 12 protest, in which dozens were injured. Eggs were also thrown.

The situation was sometimes tense with umbrellas, helmets and homemade cardboard shields passed to those at the front of the protest. But riot police stayed inside the building.

Protesters also observed a minute of silence for a protester, who fell to his death a week ago after hanging an anti-extradition banner outside Pacific Place.

Democratic Party lawmaker, Roy Kwong, said he got a message from the man’s parents saying every protester should stay safe and go home peacefully.