This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hong-kong-police-clear-pro-democracy-camp-at-key-intersection/2014/10/17/d825867b-fad8-46a3-b7eb-211bf26da620_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hong Kong police clear pro-democracy camp at key intersection Hong Kong police clear pro-democracy camp at key intersection
(about 3 hours later)
HONG KONG — Police forcefully cleared a pro-democracy camp at a key intersection before dawn Friday, a day after Hong Kong’s leader said he is ready to start talks with protesters as early as next week, although with no concessions. HONG KONG — Police cleared a pro-democracy camp at a key intersection before dawn Friday, a day after Hong Kong’s leader said he is ready to start talks with protesters but rejected in advance any major concessions.
The raid showed the quick-strike strategies of security forces seeking to regain control of the streets after three weeks of demonstrations — which began in opposition to Beijing’s rules for Hong Kong elections, but later expanded into wider challenges over China’s control over the former British colony.
Although authorities appeared to make another gain in the showdowns for streets and plazas, the protesters have faced crackdowns before and managed to regroup.
Hundreds of police, wearing helmets and brandishing riot shields and batons, stormed the camp in the congested Mong Kok neighborhood, across the harbor from the heart of the movement near government headquarters.Hundreds of police, wearing helmets and brandishing riot shields and batons, stormed the camp in the congested Mong Kok neighborhood, across the harbor from the heart of the movement near government headquarters.
The nighttime raid came as many of the protesters slept in dozens of tents or under tarpaulin sheets. The protesters retreated without resisting, but later, some trickled back to the site. No direct force was used, according to witness statements reported by news agencies. The nighttime raid came as many protesters slept in dozens of tents or under tarpaulin sheets. The protesters retreated without resisting, but later some trickled back to the site. No major force was used, according to witness statements reported by news agencies.
Traffic returned to normal after police removed the barricades, tents, shrines and umbrellas. Police on motorbikes escorted the first civilian vehicles to pass along the road in the past three weeks. Traffic returned to normal after police removed the barricades, tents, shrines and umbrellas — a symbol of the protests. Police on motorbikes escorted the first civilian vehicles to pass along the road in three weeks.
Friday's police sweep in busy Mong Kok further reduces the number of protest sites that have paralyzed parts of Asia’s premiere financial center since Sept. 28. It also reduces the number of protest sites that have paralyzed parts of Asia’s premiere financial center since Sept. 28.
The protesters, led by a younger generation of students, have been demanding democratic reforms in how the former British colony’s chief executive is named. They have also been demanding that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying resign. The protesters, led by students, have been demanding reforms in how Hong Kong’s chief executive is named. They have also been calling for the resignation of the current leader, Leung Chun-ying.
Leung told a news conference Thursday that although his government was prepared to talk to the protesters, he ruled out any concessions. Leung told a news conference Thursday that his office was prepared to talk to the protesters. But he ruled out any main concessions such as attempts to overturn — or even challenge — the Chinese Communist Party’s ruling in August that provoked the protests.
“Over the last few days, including this morning through third parties, we expressed a wish to the students to start the dialogue to discuss universal suffrage,” Leung told reporters, referring to a key point of contention: the process for electing his successor in 2017. China said that the 2017 election would be open to all voters for the first time in Hong Kong’s history, but that the choices on the ballot would be limited to those approved by Beijing. Among the qualifications: The candidates must “love China.”
But Leung continued to reject any attempt to overturn — or even challenge — the Chinese Communist Party’s ruling in August that provoked the protests. Last week, the government canceled planned talks after student leaders called for a rally to coincide with the dialogue. Leung’s latest proposal may offer little room to ease the standoff.
China said that the election would be open to all voters for the first time in Hong Kong’s history but that the choices on the ballot would be limited to those approved by Beijing. Among the qualifications: The candidates must “love China.”
“Politics is the art of the possible, and let me draw a line between the possible and the impossible,” Leung said, spelling out that questioning Beijing’s decision was not an option. “The central authority has said clearly that it will not retract the decision.”
“The most constructive thing the Hong Kong government can offer the students is sit down and listen to the students about what we can do together within the framework” of Beijing’s election rules, he said.
Last week, the government canceled planned talks after student leaders called for a rally at the main protest site to coincide with the dialogue. Leung’s latest proposal may offer little room to ease the three-week-old standoff.
“All the protests would be for nothing, pretty much, if they can’t discuss the very thing they are protesting about,” said Michael Davis, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong.“All the protests would be for nothing, pretty much, if they can’t discuss the very thing they are protesting about,” said Michael Davis, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong.
“We can’t even raise questions to the Beijing government?” he added. “What kind of autonomy is that?”“We can’t even raise questions to the Beijing government?” he added. “What kind of autonomy is that?”
Hong Kong was offered a “high degree of autonomy” by China in the 1997 handover by the British. But critics say that China is chipping away at the promise and that Leung is doing next to nothing to stop it.Hong Kong was offered a “high degree of autonomy” by China in the 1997 handover by the British. But critics say that China is chipping away at the promise and that Leung is doing next to nothing to stop it.
With the nominating committee for the 2017 ballot stacked with Beijing-friendly figures, it would be almost impossible for a pro-democracy candidate to win nomination. Students want the public to have the right to nominate candidates, but Leung says that would contravene Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, or the Basic Law.
Constitutional experts have proposed several compromises, including giving people the right to directly elect the nominating committee. But Leung has made it clear that none of the alternatives can be explored.
Another issue is a “public opinion” report that the Hong Kong government submitted to Beijing in July. The document supported China’s rules for the election vetting.
Protesters say the report grossly underplayed popular demands for genuine democracy, and they have asked the government to consider submitting a supplementary report to Beijing explaining the opposition.
Leung said the views of the people of Hong Kong had already been communicated to Beijing “very clearly.”
Throughout the crisis, critics have accused Leung and his officials of sounding more like envoys for Beijing than representatives of the people of Hong Kong.
“That is exactly the heart of the problem,” Davis said. “That is why people here want genuine democracy — not that they want to confront Beijing, but they want a government that represents Hong Kong’s interests to Beijing.”
Leung suggested that students focus not just on the 2017 election, but also on lobbying for change in the electoral system in subsequent elections.Leung suggested that students focus not just on the 2017 election, but also on lobbying for change in the electoral system in subsequent elections.
“There are many years ahead for our young students,” added Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, the secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs. “In the fullness of time; they should not just put all their focus on 2017. Maybe many of their aspirations can be addressed in future years as well.” Tensions have increased in recent days. On Wednesday morning, police used pepper spray during clashes with demonstrators and arrested 45 of them.
Tensions between the two sides have increased in recent days. On Wednesday morning, police used pepper spray during clashes with demonstrators and arrested 45 of them.
Outrage also rose after a video, which went viral on the Internet, appeared to show police leading a handcuffed protester around a dark corner, forcing him to the ground and repeatedly kicking him. Police said the seven officers involved had been suspended.Outrage also rose after a video, which went viral on the Internet, appeared to show police leading a handcuffed protester around a dark corner, forcing him to the ground and repeatedly kicking him. Police said the seven officers involved had been suspended.
This week police have been clearing barricades from major roads around the protest sites to reduce traffic congestion in Asia’s premier financial center. Protesters have responded by trying to erect new ones.This week police have been clearing barricades from major roads around the protest sites to reduce traffic congestion in Asia’s premier financial center. Protesters have responded by trying to erect new ones.
Scuffles broke out again early Thursday, with two more people arrested and the further use of pepper spray by police.
Daniela Deane reported from London.Daniela Deane reported from London.