Protesters Cleared From Land Ahead Of PLA Transfer

Police with riot shields on Friday cleared anti-extradition bill protesters who had moved onto a plot of land on the Central Waterfront that automatically transferred to the PLA at midnight on Saturday.

There were scuffles and protesters put up umbrellas to defend themselves. They chanted "return our waterfront' and also hung up banners against the transfer.

Police and protesters then confronted each other.

Ahead of the transfer, protesters had cut fences and broken into the area.

The 0.3 hectare plot stands in front of PLA headquarters. The PLA wants to use the area for a dock.

The final obstacle to the transfer was cleared on Thursday, after the Legislative Council president Andrew Leung adjourned Legco proceedings.

The transfer fell under so-called negative vetting rules, meaning the legislation didn't have to be voted on and was passed by default if no objections were raised.

Leung's decision prevented legislators from discussing matters relating to the subsidiary legislation.

Pro-democracy lawmakers Au Nok-hin and Chu Hoi-dick had been trying to stop the transfer by submitting amendments.

The protesters had earlier taken part in a rally outside the Legislative Council, where they called for international support on the extradition bill and universal suffrage.

Organisers hope world leaders will pressure President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Osaka in Japan, which began on Friday. They said 3,000 people took part.