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| Violent Clashes Erupt in Hong Kong Between Protesters and Police | Violent Clashes Erupt in Hong Kong Between Protesters and Police |
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| HONG KONG — In the most intense confrontation since the early days of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, hundreds of police officers used pepper spray in the early hours of Wednesday to scatter hundreds of demonstrators who had barricaded a harbor-front road overnight. | HONG KONG — In the most intense confrontation since the early days of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, hundreds of police officers used pepper spray in the early hours of Wednesday to scatter hundreds of demonstrators who had barricaded a harbor-front road overnight. |
| The melee appeared to last less than half an hour and the two sides settled into an uneasy standoff nearing dawn. But the crackdown further escalated tensions in this Asian financial center as the authorities show growing impatience with protests that have choked traffic for more than two weeks. | The melee appeared to last less than half an hour and the two sides settled into an uneasy standoff nearing dawn. But the crackdown further escalated tensions in this Asian financial center as the authorities show growing impatience with protests that have choked traffic for more than two weeks. |
| The swift police action to reopen the road near the offices of Hong Kong’s leader came just hours after the Chinese government appeared to ramp up the pressure on Hong Kong’s authorities to act. In statements carried in the China News Service, an official news agency, the government made its highest-level denunciation yet of the protesters, accusing them of pursuing a conspiracy to challenge Beijing’s power over the city. | The swift police action to reopen the road near the offices of Hong Kong’s leader came just hours after the Chinese government appeared to ramp up the pressure on Hong Kong’s authorities to act. In statements carried in the China News Service, an official news agency, the government made its highest-level denunciation yet of the protesters, accusing them of pursuing a conspiracy to challenge Beijing’s power over the city. |
| Zhang Xiaoming, the head of the central Chinese government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, said the movement, had “provoked” the central Chinese government and engaged in “radical forms of street confrontation,” the news service said. | Zhang Xiaoming, the head of the central Chinese government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, said the movement, had “provoked” the central Chinese government and engaged in “radical forms of street confrontation,” the news service said. |
| “The best way to avoid having all of Hong Kong’s residents pay a steeper price” was to end the protests “as soon as possible,” he was reported as saying. | “The best way to avoid having all of Hong Kong’s residents pay a steeper price” was to end the protests “as soon as possible,” he was reported as saying. |
| In the buildup to the confrontation on Wednesday, the police and protesters were locked in a tit-for-tat struggle over roads in the city, with the authorities removing some street barricades but not the main protest encampments. | In the buildup to the confrontation on Wednesday, the police and protesters were locked in a tit-for-tat struggle over roads in the city, with the authorities removing some street barricades but not the main protest encampments. |
| On Tuesday morning, the police drove protesters off a major road called Queensway, using chain saws to dismantle the bamboo and plywood barricades that had been built there. Hours later, the protesters seized a tunnel on the harbor-front street named Lung Wo Road, which runs parallel to Queensway, making good on a promise to claim new roads if the government won back some. | On Tuesday morning, the police drove protesters off a major road called Queensway, using chain saws to dismantle the bamboo and plywood barricades that had been built there. Hours later, the protesters seized a tunnel on the harbor-front street named Lung Wo Road, which runs parallel to Queensway, making good on a promise to claim new roads if the government won back some. |
| In the latest clash, which started at around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, the police were able to clear the tunnel and reopen the road, pushing the protesters into a corner of Tamar Park, which sits atop the tunnel. The police wrestled some protesters to the ground and a senior officer at the scene said in a brief interview that the police had arrested about 30 to 35 people, but stressed that was not an official count. The police and the government have been wary of arresting large numbers of protesters, apparently fearing that would turn them into symbols for democracy among the broader public. | In the latest clash, which started at around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, the police were able to clear the tunnel and reopen the road, pushing the protesters into a corner of Tamar Park, which sits atop the tunnel. The police wrestled some protesters to the ground and a senior officer at the scene said in a brief interview that the police had arrested about 30 to 35 people, but stressed that was not an official count. The police and the government have been wary of arresting large numbers of protesters, apparently fearing that would turn them into symbols for democracy among the broader public. |
| Adding to the volatility of the standoff, the park is just several minutes walk from the main pro-democracy protest site, in the Admiralty neighborhood on the south side of Victoria Harbor. In calmer times, people often visit Tamar Park to take in a view of the water. | Adding to the volatility of the standoff, the park is just several minutes walk from the main pro-democracy protest site, in the Admiralty neighborhood on the south side of Victoria Harbor. In calmer times, people often visit Tamar Park to take in a view of the water. |
| Some students alleged that the police had beaten some protesters. | Some students alleged that the police had beaten some protesters. |
| “None of us used any force, while they charged into us; we ran, but they kept coming into us and beating us,” said George Wong, a 31-year-old artist. But it was impossible to verify the claims since the clashes occurred in several areas that were difficult to reach. | “None of us used any force, while they charged into us; we ran, but they kept coming into us and beating us,” said George Wong, a 31-year-old artist. But it was impossible to verify the claims since the clashes occurred in several areas that were difficult to reach. |
| The confrontation was the worst between the police and protesters since late September, when the police used tear gas on a large crowd of protesters, triggering an outpouring of public anger. | The confrontation was the worst between the police and protesters since late September, when the police used tear gas on a large crowd of protesters, triggering an outpouring of public anger. |
| As dawn approached on Wednesday, hundreds of protesters in a corner of Tamar Park sat silently facing a cordon of a hundred or so police officers. | As dawn approached on Wednesday, hundreds of protesters in a corner of Tamar Park sat silently facing a cordon of a hundred or so police officers. |
| The mood among the protesters was one of calm resignation, with scant sign of any preparations for a renewed assault. “There are too many of them,” said Oscar Tung, an 18-year-old who works in a hair salon, as he sat on the ground with both a snorkeling mask and a surgical mask hanging around his neck as a precaution for a new assault of pepper spray or tear gas. “We can just wait outside and see what the police do.” | |
| The students and the white-collar workers who joined them had hoped to hold off the police with makeshift barricades that included trash cans and road signs piled atop police barricades that they had taken and lashed together. Before the crackdown, they had been taking triumphant photos and shouting dismissive jeers as the police warned, on a loudspeaker, against the use of the barricades in their fortifications. | The students and the white-collar workers who joined them had hoped to hold off the police with makeshift barricades that included trash cans and road signs piled atop police barricades that they had taken and lashed together. Before the crackdown, they had been taking triumphant photos and shouting dismissive jeers as the police warned, on a loudspeaker, against the use of the barricades in their fortifications. |
| Earlier in the day, Hui Chun-tak, the chief police spokesman, said that the authorities’ efforts to shrink areas under the protesters’ control would continue. He said that the police planned to remove obstacles in the bustling Mong Kok neighborhood on the north side of Victoria Harbor, which has been the site of a raucous, occasionally violent street occupation. | Earlier in the day, Hui Chun-tak, the chief police spokesman, said that the authorities’ efforts to shrink areas under the protesters’ control would continue. He said that the police planned to remove obstacles in the bustling Mong Kok neighborhood on the north side of Victoria Harbor, which has been the site of a raucous, occasionally violent street occupation. |
| “Mong Kok is a high-risk area — our officers are now ready to take action,” he said. Mr. Hui said that the goal of the action, as elsewhere, would be to remove obstacles impeding traffic, and not to clear the demonstrators themselves from the streets, unless the demonstrators resisted. He gave no specific time for action in Mong Kok, despite repeated questions. | “Mong Kok is a high-risk area — our officers are now ready to take action,” he said. Mr. Hui said that the goal of the action, as elsewhere, would be to remove obstacles impeding traffic, and not to clear the demonstrators themselves from the streets, unless the demonstrators resisted. He gave no specific time for action in Mong Kok, despite repeated questions. |
| Nathan Road in Mong Kok, a usually busy shopping strip where demonstrators have blocked traffic, was busy with protest meetings on Tuesday night. Hundreds of police officers stood watch around the site or in nearby streets, but there were no signs of any impending operation to remove the barriers. | Nathan Road in Mong Kok, a usually busy shopping strip where demonstrators have blocked traffic, was busy with protest meetings on Tuesday night. Hundreds of police officers stood watch around the site or in nearby streets, but there were no signs of any impending operation to remove the barriers. |
| The police had earlier removed some of the metal railings taken by protesters for the barriers, but they were quickly replaced with wooden pallets. | The police had earlier removed some of the metal railings taken by protesters for the barriers, but they were quickly replaced with wooden pallets. |
| Several people in the crowd said the protesters at Mong Kok, where there is a higher proportion of workers and hardened political activists than in Admiralty, were likely to resist fiercely any police incursions. “No road opening without concessions from the government,” said one poster. | Several people in the crowd said the protesters at Mong Kok, where there is a higher proportion of workers and hardened political activists than in Admiralty, were likely to resist fiercely any police incursions. “No road opening without concessions from the government,” said one poster. |
| Vicky Koo, a social worker in the Mong Kok area, said, “Here there is no union or organization, and less students. If the police move in, it will be harder to control the conflict.” | Vicky Koo, a social worker in the Mong Kok area, said, “Here there is no union or organization, and less students. If the police move in, it will be harder to control the conflict.” |
| Although many protesters at the Admiralty camp proclaimed that they would defy further incursions, their resistance could prove brittle if the police again take them by surprise and overwhelming force. | Although many protesters at the Admiralty camp proclaimed that they would defy further incursions, their resistance could prove brittle if the police again take them by surprise and overwhelming force. |
| “We need more people to come out and use their power, but it’s hard because everyone needs to work,” said Kevin Sze, a 26-year-old social worker, as he sat on a camping chair near the barricades remaining around Admiralty. He was between jobs, and so had been able to stay at the protest site during the day, he said, adding, “No one wants to be arrested.” | “We need more people to come out and use their power, but it’s hard because everyone needs to work,” said Kevin Sze, a 26-year-old social worker, as he sat on a camping chair near the barricades remaining around Admiralty. He was between jobs, and so had been able to stay at the protest site during the day, he said, adding, “No one wants to be arrested.” |
| In the main protest camp there — a settlement of tents, supply stations and protest art next to the government offices — some protesters voiced worries on Tuesday before the retaking of the tunnel that the police would continue encroaching on the encampment. But many said that they would stay and resist if the police tried to move in closer. | In the main protest camp there — a settlement of tents, supply stations and protest art next to the government offices — some protesters voiced worries on Tuesday before the retaking of the tunnel that the police would continue encroaching on the encampment. But many said that they would stay and resist if the police tried to move in closer. |
| Alex Chow, the secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of the main organizations supporting the protests, said in an interview that he was “somewhat relieved” that the protesters no longer had to defend Queensway. The retreat could help consolidate protesters’ strength at other sites and ease residents’ complaints about the inconveniences caused by the roadblocks, he said. | Alex Chow, the secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of the main organizations supporting the protests, said in an interview that he was “somewhat relieved” that the protesters no longer had to defend Queensway. The retreat could help consolidate protesters’ strength at other sites and ease residents’ complaints about the inconveniences caused by the roadblocks, he said. |
| “It’s not a wholly ideal strategy to occupy Queensway in the first place,” he said. “The inconvenience cost us sympathizers, and the fact is you don’t have enough people to defend it.” | “It’s not a wholly ideal strategy to occupy Queensway in the first place,” he said. “The inconvenience cost us sympathizers, and the fact is you don’t have enough people to defend it.” |
| The protests have polarized Hong Kong society between supporters of demonstrators’ demands for electoral democracy and opponents who see the protests as disruptions to the city’s usual orderliness. Some Hong Kong politicians, echoing accusations in the Chinese Communist Party press, also suggest that the demonstrations are Western-inspired challenges to the Chinese government’s hold over the former British colony. | The protests have polarized Hong Kong society between supporters of demonstrators’ demands for electoral democracy and opponents who see the protests as disruptions to the city’s usual orderliness. Some Hong Kong politicians, echoing accusations in the Chinese Communist Party press, also suggest that the demonstrations are Western-inspired challenges to the Chinese government’s hold over the former British colony. |
| Beijing regained sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, and it has promised residents that from 2017 they would have the right to vote for the city’s leader, or chief executive. | Beijing regained sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, and it has promised residents that from 2017 they would have the right to vote for the city’s leader, or chief executive. |
| But advocates of democracy argue that the electoral rules laid down by China’s legislature in late August would turn such elections into an empty ritual, because they require that candidates first win approval from at least half the members of a nomination committee dominated by groups and politicians loyal to Beijing. | But advocates of democracy argue that the electoral rules laid down by China’s legislature in late August would turn such elections into an empty ritual, because they require that candidates first win approval from at least half the members of a nomination committee dominated by groups and politicians loyal to Beijing. |
| Regina Ip, a Hong Kong lawmaker who supports Chinese government policies toward the city, told reporters on Tuesday that the protests were tarnishing Hong Kong’s image of stability. “We are beginning to see a breakdown of law and order,” she said. | Regina Ip, a Hong Kong lawmaker who supports Chinese government policies toward the city, told reporters on Tuesday that the protests were tarnishing Hong Kong’s image of stability. “We are beginning to see a breakdown of law and order,” she said. |
| But Audrey Eu, the chairwoman of the pro-democratic Civic Party who supports the sit-ins, said in an interview that the protest movement needed to maintain public support and prepare for a long struggle similar to the civil rights movement in the United States. | But Audrey Eu, the chairwoman of the pro-democratic Civic Party who supports the sit-ins, said in an interview that the protest movement needed to maintain public support and prepare for a long struggle similar to the civil rights movement in the United States. |
| “I’ve been going to these mobile civic classes, and I’ve been telling them about Rosa Parks,” she said. “I always ask them, ‘How long do you think the Montgomery bus boycott lasted?' ” | |
| “A lot of people said, ‘A month?’ ‘Three months?' ” Ms. Yu added. “And I said no, and they finally said, ‘A year!’ So I think you have to prepare to have staying power.” | “A lot of people said, ‘A month?’ ‘Three months?' ” Ms. Yu added. “And I said no, and they finally said, ‘A year!’ So I think you have to prepare to have staying power.” |