British and colonial-era flags being waved at Hong Kong's anti-government rallies are a vivid rebuke to China's rule but they have also stirred intense controversy among protesters who fear the symbolism plays into Beijing's hands.

An elderly lady known as "Grandma Wong" is among the most ardent advocates of Britain's Union flag, with her diminutive but vibrant presence a regular feature at the two months of pro-democracy protests that have rocked the international financial hub.

The 63-year-old -- whose full name is Alexandra Wong -- says the flag she chooses to wave is an expression of her dissatisfaction with the two decades of Beijing's rule since Hong Kong was handed back by Britain in 1997.

"I want the middle-aged and older generations -- many of whom are still asleep and don't really understand the young people -- to compare now to how good it was, relatively, in the British colonial period," she told AFP at a weekend rally in the heart of the Causeway Bay shopping district.

China and the city's leaders, she believes, are "destroying Hong Kong's core values".

- 'Colonial fantasies' -

The demonstrations were triggered by a controversial bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, but have since evolved into a call for wider democratic reforms and a halt to eroding freedoms.

Over the past seven weeks, huge crowds have come out onto the streets followed frequently by violent clashes between smaller groups of hardcore protesters and riot police.

Amid the crowds, British Union flags and Hong Kong's last colonial-era flag, featuring a coat of arms made up of a dragon, two lions and two trading junk boats -- have now become a common sight.

Beijing claims the protests are part of a foreign-funded plot to destabilise the motherland.

It is especially sensitive to comments from the United Kingdom, which it has accused of "fantasising in the faded glory of British colonialism".

But for 25-year-old Neo Lai, who was waving the colonial emblem at a rally this month, the flag represents the "fusion of East and West" that many Hong Kongers fear is disappearing as Beijing steps up efforts to integrate the city with the mainland.

"I think it is the only flag that represents Hong Kong," he told AFP.

Many of those who have embraced colonial-era vigils hail from the more radical wings of the protest movement -- the tiny minority of protesters who want Hong Kong to break away from the mainland, an absolute line in the sand for Beijing.

"I am protesting today because Hong Kong is not China," Dave Lai, who was waving a colonial flag he bought on Facebook, told AFP at a recent rally.

"I want Hong Kong independence. I want universal suffrage."

During an unprecedented siege of the legislature on July 1 -- as Hong Kong marked the 22nd anniversary of its handover -- a colonial flag was briefly draped in the debating chamber.

- Wrong message -

But the colonial flag did not stay up for long -- an indication of the mixed feelings it provokes among protesters, the majority of whom are not advocating for independence and fear that overseas flags play into Beijing's narrative.

By far the most popular flag of choice at the rallies has been a wilting version of a Bauhinia flower -- Hong Kong's official emblem -- on a black background, a nod to the idea that the city's unique freedoms and character are rotting away.

Some Hong Kongers say people's discontent with China should not provoke admiration for Britain, a colonial master that never granted democracy to the city's inhabitants either.

A popular forum used to discuss news around the protests asked users to vote on whether they thought protesters should display colonial-era flags during marches, with 3,500 responding no and a mere 250 saying yes.

"Foreigners might misunderstand when seeing it," one person wrote. "Hong Kongers want to rule Hong Kong, instead of being ruled by the Chinese mainland or the United Kingdom."

There have also been confrontations among protesters over colonial flags at rallies.

During a blockade of the city's police station this month, AFP witnessed protesters confronting another elderly man who is a regular at the protests waving a colonial flag. They eventually snatched his flag and took it away.

Wong, who is warmly greeted by most protesters, said she would continue to wave the Union flag at upcoming rallies.

"Many people think I'm humiliating the Chinese Communist Party, holding up the UK flag," she said, with a grin. "That isn't my original intention, but I'm very happy that it does have this effect."

Tensions high as Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters face court
Hong Kong (AFP) July 31, 2019 - Dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters appeared in court Wednesday after being charged with rioting, setting the stage for further unrest in a weeks-long crisis that has rocked the global financial hub.

The announcement on Tuesday night that 44 people had been charged with rioting -- an offence that carries a jail term of up to 10 years -- immediately triggered another round of clashes between police and protesters.

Supporters continued to voice their outrage as they stood for hours on Wednesday outside court, braving heavy winds and rain, as the accused rioters appeared before a judge.

"Release the righteous... no rioters, only tyranny... reclaim Hong Kong, the revolution of our times," the supporters chanted.

The protesters were generally calm as they took turns to appear in front of the judge, who formally read the charges and granted them bail.

The range of their professions reflected the wide support across Hong Kong society for the pro-democracy movement.

They included a teacher, a nurse, an airline pilot, a barber, a chef, an electrician, a construction worker and unemployed people, according to their charge sheets.

A 16-year-old girl was also among the group.

- Protest evolution -

Semi-autonomous Hong Kong has endured more than seven weeks of unrest that began with a government bid to introduce a law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China.

The protests evolved into a movement for deeper democratic reforms and an end to eroding freedoms, in the most significant challenge to Beijing's rule since the city's handover from Britain in 1997.

In the latest confrontation, police used pepper spray and batons against hundreds of protesters who had gathered outside a police station in solidarity with those who had just been charged.

Footage broadcast live on television showed an officer aiming a shotgun at protesters who were throwing objects at him.

Police said on Wednesday evening they had arrested three people after fireworks were fired from a car at protesters gathered outside another police station on Tuesday night.

The previous two weekends had seen a surge in the level of violence used by both protesters and police, who repeatedly fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse projectile-throwing crowds.

A mob of pro-government thugs also attacked protesters, putting 45 people in hospital.

The 44 protesters were charged for their alleged role in running battles between police and protesters in a well-heeled residential neighbourhood on the main island on Sunday.

The move to charge protesters with rioting came a day after Beijing publicly threw its weight behind Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam and the police, saying violent protesters must be swiftly punished.

"No civilised society or rule of law society will tolerate rampant violence," Yang Guang, spokesman for the cabinet-level Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, told reporters.

But while Beijing has issued increasingly shrill condemnations of the protests, it has left the city's government to deal with the situation.

Lam has shown no sign of backing down beyond agreeing to suspend the extradition bill, and has made few public appearances.

Amnesty International said the charging of the 44 protesters with rioting was aimed at intimidating others from taking part in future pro-democracy rallies.

"By using such vague charges against pro-democracy protesters, the Hong Kong authorities seem intent on sending a chilling warning to anyone considering taking part in future protests," the global human rights group's Hong Kong director, Man-kei Tam, said in a statement.

But protesters have vowed to keep their campaign going until their core demands are met.

They include Lam's resignation, an independent inquiry into police tactics, an amnesty for those arrested, a permanent withdrawal of the bill and the right to elect their leaders.

Under the terms of the 1997 handover deal from British to Chinese rule, Hong Kong enjoys rights and liberties unseen on the mainland, including an independent judiciary and freedom of speech.

But many say those rights are being curtailed, citing the disappearance into mainland custody of dissident booksellers, the disqualification of prominent politicians and the jailing of pro-democracy protest leaders.

Public anger has been compounded by rising inequality, the high costs of living and the perception that the city's distinct language and culture are being threatened by ever closer integration with the Chinese mainland.

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