Thread by @HongKongFP

Democratic Party lawmaker Andrew Wan appears to have been pepper-sprayed and arrested in Causeway Bay as crowds gathered to mark July 1. There is a heavy police presence around SOGO shopping mall, with officers stopping and searching passersby. #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw

Police are cordoning off the area and have raised the blue warning flag warning of an unlawful assembly. #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw

Police displayed the new purple flag several times, warning people that they are in breach of the #NationalSecurityLaw. Crowds have been chanting protest slogans, including "Five demands, not one less" and "Liberate #HongKong, the revolution of our times." Photo: RTHK screenshot.

A police water cannon truck has been spotted deploying towards the direction of Causeway Bay, as police continue to clear pro-democracy street booths, pushing and pepper spraying crowds.

Photo: May James / Telegram. #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw

Several exits from Causeway Bay MTR Station have been closed by police.

In full: hongkongfp.com/2020/07/01/bre…

Photo: May James. #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw

A number of arrestees in Causeway Bay are taken away by coach at around 2pm.

Photo: Kevin Cheng/USP. #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw

In Causeway Bay, HKFP reporters overheard a senior police officer tell his colleagues to stop and search those who chant: "liberate #HongKong, the revolution of our times" and jot down their personal details.

In full: hongkongfp.com/2020/07/01/bre…

Photo: HKFP. #NationalSecurityLaw

In a 2:21pm statement, police defended the ongoing cordoning of Causeway Bay and arrests of protesters by reference to public order offences, not the #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw.

In full: hongkongfp.com/2020/07/01/bre…

Despite the large police presence and some arrests around Causeway Bay, protesters have begun marching.

One banner reads: "I really fucking love #HongKong".

In full: hongkongfp.com/2020/07/01/bre…

Photo: May James. #NationalSecurityLaw

Outside Causeway Bay's Times Square mall, the crowd began marching as they raised a hand gesture that signals "five demands, not one less" and chanted democracy slogans such as "fight for freedom, stand with #HongKong."

#NationalSecurityLaw

Central and Western District Councillor Fergus Leung told HKFP the July 1 march is significant despite the National Security Law. “I believe from the people that you see in the streets today, Hong Kong people will not back down towards the oppression of Chinese Communist Party.”

Leung condemned the earlier arrest of a man with a Hong Kong independence flag. “The gov't is not only imposing a control on people’s action but also on people’s minds... If China itself is so fragile that it can be hurt by a flag, China needs to reflect why it’s so fragile.”

Police have arrested 30 people on the suspicion of unlawful assembly, obstructing a police officer, possession of offensive weapons, and violating the national security law, according to NowTV. Protesters continue to march in Causeway Bay.

Photo: May James/HKFP. #HongKong

Earlier in Causeway Bay, pro-democracy activist Tam Tak-chi from People Power dressed in Chinese military uniform and said Hong Kong has entered the age of "One Country, One System". He also said journalists on the scene may risk secession under the security law.

Photo: HKFP.

A number of people were arrested under the Canal Road Flyover in Wanchai for unknown reasons.

Photo: Joshua Kwan/USP. #hongkong #nationalsecuritylaw

An exit of Hysan Place shopping mall connecting to Hennessy Road was sealed off by a giant white canvas, while joss paper has been tossed onto the street to symbolise the "death" of "One Country, Two Systems".

Photo: HKFP. #hongkong #nationalsecuritylaw

Protesters placed cones and road signs on Leighton Road, attempting to block the road. Meanwhile, police made an arrest on Canal Road and pulled over a dozen people into a cordon for search.

Photo: HKFP. #hongkong #nationalsecuritylaw

The police special tactical squad - the "raptors" - were deployed on Canal Road, and pushed journalists back from their cordon line.

#hongkong #nationalsecuritylaw

Thousands have marched in Causeway Bay and Wanchai along the banned July 1 march on the first day after the #NationalSecurityLaw was enacted, despite heavy police presence and the use of water cannon.

Photo: May James/Cezzna/USP. #hongkong

The black flag warning of tear gas was hoisted by police several times in the afternoon, but the chemical agent has not been used so far as of 4pm.

Photo: Joshua Kwan/USP. #hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

The "cat-and-mouse" routine between protesters and police continue as hundreds gathered on Hennesy Road amid light rain. Riot police soon advanced to disperse the crowd.

#hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

Shortly after 4pm on Hennessy Road, riot police officers fired rounds of pepper ball and aim their projectile rifles at protesters. They only raised an orange flag warning of the projectiles afterwards.

Photo: HKFP. #hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

Meanewhile, protesters torn down a banner in support of the national security law that was previously hung on a footbridge.

Photo: HKFP. #hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

Hong Kong police say they have arrested over 70 people in the banned July 1 protests as of 4pm - two of which are accused of violating the new National Security Law.

#hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

Protesters placed makeshift roadblocks along Queen's Road East before riot police arrived.

Photo: May James. #hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

A reporter wearing a press vest was stopped and searched outside Times Square. Riot police asked reporters to leave immediately as a "raptor" fired a pepper ball at a footbridge.

#hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

Shortly before 5pm, a riot police officer appeared to be slashed in the left elbow with a knife during a tussle with protesters outside Victoria Park.

Photo: Stand News. #hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

Police fired water cannon at journalists in Wanchai late Wednesday afternoon, with RTHK footage showing a reporter being thrown several metres after being hit with a blast.

Photo: Kero/USP. #hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

A protester who was chased by police outside Times Square around 5pm managed to escape, but his bag had been pulled down in the process.

#hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

Tear gas has been fired on Percival Street, Causeway Bay at around 5:15pm.

Photo: HKFP. #hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

A branch of Maxim's Cakes in Percival Street has been vandalised. The Maxim's chain has been targeted by protesters since the daughter of its founder spoke at the UN in support of Beijing and pledging to "give up on Hong Kong's young people".

#hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

Pro-independence graffiti is spraypainted on the sidewalk in Causeway Bay.

#hongkong #NationalSecurityLaw

The #HongKong Journalists Association has condemned the police for firing water cannon at a reporter earlier in the afternoon - saying that the officer on the truck did not stop until he noticed another undercover officer next to the targeted reporter.

#NationalSecurityLaw

A well-known impersonator of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has appeared at the banned July 1 protests in Causeway Bay.

#HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw

In Causeway Bay, a man carries a Christian cross with writing criticising Carrie Lam as a tyrant and that God and men alike are angry.

Photo: May James. #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw

Officers fired a pepper ball towards the window of the Wanchai office of Liber Research Community, an NGO studying land use in Hong Kong, after staff filmed police operations on the streets below.

Photo: InMedia. #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw

Police have announced at 5:50pm that around 180 people have been arrested in the banned July 1 protest so far, with seven on suspicion of violating the newly-acted #NationalSecurityLaw.

Photo: May James. #HongKong

Joss paper litters the streets of Wanchai, thrown by protesters to mourn the "death" of "One Country, Two Systems" in #HongKong after the passage of the #NationalSecurityLaw.

Photo: HKFP.

Protesters continue to fill the streets with posters in support of the "five demands" of last year's anti-extradition bill movement, against the National Security Law, and now-outlawed independence advocacy.

Photo: May James. #hongkong #nationalsecuritylaw