In a long-unseen display of defiance, hundreds of Hong Kong protesters gathered in the bustling district of Jordan on Sunday afternoon to protest against the postponement of the Legislative Council elections, citywide COVID-19 testing and Beijing’s draconian national security law on the city.

“Give us back the right to vote,” demonstrators chanted a new slogan as they took to the streets again and made their way towards Mong Kok.

In the evening, a 12-year-old girl suffered minor injuries after she was tackled to the floor by police officers.

The girl was shopping with her 20-year-old brother and turned around quickly after seeing a huge crowd. Footage shows officers accosting the two and pushing the girl to the ground, after which three officers kneeled on her to hold her down.

The siblings were later fined HK$2,000 (US$258) each for having violated social distancing rules. In a statement released on Facebook, police claimed the girl appeared suspicious and officers used minimum force to arrest her.

Since Sunday early afternoon, police vehicles have been patrolling the roads and large groups of riot officers were stationed on every block. People were unable to walk along the thoroughfare of Nathan Road and instead weaved through streets and traffic. Officers conducted stopped and searched operations in the district throughout the day.

Roadblocks also returned to the Cross-Harbor Tunnel for officers to randomly pull over any vehicles passing through and search every passenger. A bus driver wearing a respirator was arrested for reportedly honking the car’s horn at officers. Police claimed the driver drove too close to officers and arrested him for dangerous driving.

Police also fired pepper balls at protesters in Mong Kok and unfurled the purple flag, warning people who chanted the popular protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times” of violating the national security law.

As of 9 p.m. Sunday, at least 289 were arrested for unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct, assaulting and obstructing officers, according to the police.

In July, Chief Executive Carrie Lam invoked emergency powers to postpone the Legislative Council elections, originally scheduled on Sep. 6, on the ground of public health amid a surge in coronavirus cases. In August, Beijing extended the current term for at least another year.

A man, surnamed Lau, dressed as a ballot box to protest against the cancelled election. “This is an illegitimate government as it is neither elected nor recognized by the people,” said Lau, who worried the government will continue to postpone the elections even after a year.

“I am also here to exercise our right to protest, which is enshrined under the Basic Law. We do not need the authorities’ permission to hold peaceful public assemblies,” Lau added.

“We should have been voting today, but the government used the pandemic as an excuse to deprive us of the right to vote,” said Kung, a middle-aged woman who insisted on claiming the streets. “If they are able to set up so many centers and conduct the citywide COVID-19 testing scheme, there is no legitimate reason why voting cannot take place.”

Kung also questions the effectiveness of the universal coronavirus testing program. “It is a total waste of public funds. The Hong Kong government is only doing it to butter up the Chinese authorities, playing according to Beijing’s script to stage a show. But as taxpayers, we don’t even know how much has been spent on the scheme,” said Kung.

Around 1.08 million have signed up for the testing program, which has identified only 10 patients so far, four of which are previously confirmed cases.

Given the national security law and social distancing rules, which gave the law enforcement new powers to crackdown on street protests, “it is no longer possible to hold an actual demonstration,” said Kung. “Yet, no matter what, as a Hong Kong person, I have to make myself heard.”

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