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A violent assault on pro-Hong Kong demonstrators by a group of Chinese activists
in Southampton has sparked outrage and concerns about the export of repression
of freedom of expression. Following a rally commemorating the 2019 protests for
democratic reforms in Hong Kong, disturbing footage emerged, showing three men
aggressively targeting a man and a woman while others stood by. Shouts claiming
"Hong Kong belongs to China" accompanied the assault, raising alarm about the
violation of fundamental principles such as freedom of expression and peaceful
assembly. Hampshire constabulary and the University of Southampton are
actively investigating the incident, while community leaders from Hong Kong and
former British consulate employee Simon Cheng strongly condemned the assault,
emphasizing the importance of protecting individuals' rights to express their
opinions without fear of violence or retribution. |
