Protesters storm Hong Kong’s streets over extradition bill, police respo...

Protesters storm Hong Kong’s streets over extradition bill, police respond with tear gas, rubber bullets

Hong Kong puts off debate on extradition bill amid mammoth protests

HONG KONG — Tens of thousands of demonstrators in Hong Kong stormed key city roads in the face of tear gas and rubber bullets Wednesday, after days of heightened tensions over the government’s plan to push forward a bill that would allow extraditions to China.

It is the second time in five years that Hong Kong’s main roads have been occupied in defiance of Beijing’s tightening control on the semiautonomous city.

The protesters, many of them young people dressed in black, started surrounding the building that houses Hong Kong’s main government offices, the Legislative Council, late Tuesday night. Some pitched tents in a nearby park and on sidewalks, spending the night despite sporadic rain showers.

Throughout the day, the protesters, many wearing goggles and yellow construction helmets, pushed against police lines to force them back until police deployed tear gas in the middle of the afternoon, causing many protesters to retreat.

HONG KONG — Hong Kong's legislature postponed debating a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China after thousands of demonstrators swarmed the area surrounding the central government complex Wednesday.

After hours of calm, in which black-clad demonstrators set up camps and distributed snacks and surgical masks, police fired tear gas that sent crowds running.

It was not immediately clear what prompted that response. Reuters reported that some demonstrators had thrown bottles and charged the police, overturning barriers outside the complex. NBC News would not immediately able to independently confirm that report.

The protesters are against a new law that would allow Hong Kong to extradite suspected criminals to mainland China, Taiwan and Macau. Supporters say it's necessary to stop Hong Kong becoming a haven for fugitives, but critics argue it is the latest step in China seeking to erode Hong Kong's freedom

The government had been due to debate the bill Wednesday, but earlier in the day announced this would be "changed to a later time to be determined" by the head of the Legislative Council, which is controlled by a pro-Beijing majority.

Wednesday's rally came three days after as many as 1 million people took to the streets — perhaps the biggest demonstration in Hong Kong's history.