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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Hong Kong police clear pro-democracy camp at key intersection | Hong Kong police clear pro-democracy camp at key intersection |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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 to 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. | Although authorities appeared to make another gain in the showdowns for streets and plazas, the protesters have faced crackdowns before and managed to regroup. |
| Protest leaders also said the clearance casts doubt on the government’s sincerity to engage in talks. | Protest leaders also said the clearance casts doubt on the government’s sincerity to engage in talks. |
| “If the government does not agree with the students’ position, it can rebut them during the dialogue,” said a statement from Occupy Central, one of the protest organizers. “It is unreasonable for the government to require the students to first abandon their position before engaging in dialogue.” | “If the government does not agree with the students’ position, it can rebut them during the dialogue,” said a statement from Occupy Central, one of the protest organizers. “It is unreasonable for the government to require the students to first abandon their position before engaging in dialogue.” |
| 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 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. | 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 — a symbol of the protests. Police on motorbikes escorted the first civilian vehicles to pass along the road in 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. |
| The action also reduced the number of protest sites that have paralyzed parts of Asia’s premier financial center since Sept. 28. | |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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 when Britain handed over the territory in 1997. But critics say China is chipping away at the promise and that Leung is doing next to nothing to stop it. | |
| Leung suggested that students focus not just on the 2017 election but also on lobbying for change in the electoral system in subsequent elections. | |
| Tensions have increased in recent days. On Wednesday morning, police used pepper spray during clashes with demonstrators and arrested 45 people. | Tensions have increased in recent days. On Wednesday morning, police used pepper spray during clashes with demonstrators and arrested 45 people. |
| 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 have been suspended. | |
| This week, police have been clearing barricades from major roads around the protest sites to reduce traffic congestion. Protesters have responded by trying to erect new ones. | |
| Deane reported from London. |