Police surround Hong Kong Legislative Council ahead of meeting

Hundreds of police surrounded Hong Kong's Legislative Council on Wednesday morning ahead of a meeting on the controversial national anthem law.

Police vans and officers in riot gear were on patrol from before dawn in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong island.

Extra water-filled barriers, metal fences and barbed wire were around the government complex as early as Tuesday.

The Legislative Council is expected to resume discussion of the law, which would make it an offence to disrespect the Chinese Communist national anthem.

The legislative procedure comes after months of delay, as Hong Kong authorities wrested control of committee meetings at the Legislative Council. That process saw scuffles and confrontation over the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, the people of Hong Kong are waiting for Beijing to announce further details of a new national security law, which is expected to be imposed on the territory in the coming months.

(Representative Image)(Image Credit Pixabay)