HK officers injured as rally ends in violence

Bloomberg

Two Hong Kong police officers were beaten at a rally in the city centre that was dispersed as it descended into confusion and violent clashes.
The officers, from the Police Community Liaison Office, both suffered head wounds after being attacked with wooden sticks and other weapons near the gathering in Chater Garden in the Central business district.
The meeting of thousands of protesters started peacefully with speeches and music but was dispersed when police ordered an end to it, citing violent behaviour by protesters.
Sunday’s events followed a relative lull in the past weeks, after seven months of sometimes-violent protests that were ignited by a bill to allow extraditions to mainland China. The demonstrators’ demands have broadened to include greater democracy and an independent inquiry into police conduct.
The Chater Garden venue was virtually cleared of the throngs of demonstrators gathered for a rally scheduled to run until 10 pm on Sunday.
The meeting was meant to reinvigorate the Hong Kong protest movement, with a list of speakers from trade unions, religious groups and student associations.