Hong Kong residents in Australia should be given permanent protection in Australia as clashes between protesters and police escalate in their homeland, Greens Leader Richard Di Natale says.
The call comes as police in Hong Kong intensify a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, making mass arrests and using water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to control demonstrations.
The Greens Leader is urging Prime Minister Scott Morrison to make the same offer to the nearly 19,000 Hong Kong residents in Australia as Bob Hawke did to Chinese students after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
“The recent attacks on peaceful protesters by the Hong Kong police and proxy forces are shocking and completely unacceptable," Senator Di Natale said.
"Using force against peaceful protestors is never acceptable and we stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong."
A pro-democracy Hong Kong supporter covers his face at a rally in Sydney. Source: AAP
Video of police raiding subway stations and, in one case, dragging an unconscious protester on the ground in recent days has shocked observers.
“Like Bob Hawke in the wake of Tiananmen Square, Scott Morrison now has an opportunity to demonstrate to the world some kindness and generosity. For the sake of everyone involved in these tragic circumstances, I hope he takes it," he said.
In a tearful speech in the wake of the Tiananmen Square massacre, Mr Hawke, announced more than 40,000 Chinese students studying in Australia would be granted asylum.
But Scott Morrison said it was too early to consider granting permanent protection visas to Hong Kong residents.
"Those sorts of issues are premature. What we have to do in this situation is remain calm," the prime minister told 3AW radio on Wednesday.
"We just urge the protesters to be peaceful and just urge the de-escalation of the situation."
Additional reporting by AAP.
