Protesters Vent Anger At Beijing's Liaison Office

For the first time during the current political turmoil, protesters have taken their anger over the extradition bill saga to Beijing's representatives in the city.

After occupying roads in Admiralty and Central, large numbers of protesters wearing black clothes and face masks made their way through Sheung Wan to the liaison office.

They stuck banners on the complex's gates, sprayed graffiti, and shouted for liaison office director Wang Zhimin to come out and address them.

Security staff had rolled down the building's shutters before some in the crowd began hurling eggs at the office. CCTV cameras were also sprayed with paint.

One protester, who gave his name as Tony, explained why the liaison office was targeted: "We think that it is useless if we just go to have an assembly in front of the headquarters of our Hong Kong government. We all think the power now ruling Hong Kong is the China government," he said.

As protesters moved in on the liaison office, the crowd was thinning out on Harcourt Road in Admiralty which was occupied after marchers from Victoria Park ignored the police and refused to end their demonstration in Wan Chai.

There was no visible police presence in Central or Admiralty, despite the disruption protesters were causing to road after road.

At around 8pm, the police announced on social media that they would be starting an operation to clear protesters, starting with the liaison office, "in face of the escalating violence".

Almost immediately, the protesters started pulling out from the liaison office, heading back towards Central.

Rallies outside the office are common over other issues, notably those regarding the human rights situation across the border, but this is the first time that large numbers of anti-extradition protesters have targeted mainland officials.

While the police have borne the brunt of most of the extradition bill protesters' fury so far, their intended target has been Chief Executive Carrie Lam and to a lesser extent Security Secretary John Lee and Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng.

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