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| As government building is stormed, Hong Kong protesters debate the endgame | As government building is stormed, Hong Kong protesters debate the endgame |
| (30 days later) | |
| HONG KONG — It began with a bang — with tear gas and baton-wielding police charging at student demonstrators. | |
| Now, almost two months into a pro-democracy protest, the few hundred who were still camped out are openly debating when and how to end it — and what that ending will mean for this city’s prospects for democracy. | Now, almost two months into a pro-democracy protest, the few hundred who were still camped out are openly debating when and how to end it — and what that ending will mean for this city’s prospects for democracy. |
| Tuesday and Wednesday witnessed starkly different attitudes and intentions among the protesters. When, on Tuesday morning, authorities began to clear a small edge of the main protest site, few who were there resisted. A handful even helped workers carry away barricades as a gesture of compliance. | Tuesday and Wednesday witnessed starkly different attitudes and intentions among the protesters. When, on Tuesday morning, authorities began to clear a small edge of the main protest site, few who were there resisted. A handful even helped workers carry away barricades as a gesture of compliance. |
| But on Wednesday, just after midnight, others — apparently frustrated that the movement has stalled — stormed through police barriers and broke the glass facade of the government’s legislative council building in an attempt to get inside. | But on Wednesday, just after midnight, others — apparently frustrated that the movement has stalled — stormed through police barriers and broke the glass facade of the government’s legislative council building in an attempt to get inside. |
| In response, police unleashed pepper spray on a swarm of protesters, donned riot gear and forcefully pushed the crowd of demonstrators back. The situation quickly devolved into a four-hour-plus tense standoff, with police resorting several times to using batons and pepper spray. | In response, police unleashed pepper spray on a swarm of protesters, donned riot gear and forcefully pushed the crowd of demonstrators back. The situation quickly devolved into a four-hour-plus tense standoff, with police resorting several times to using batons and pepper spray. |
| At least two protesters were arrested in the fray, and paramedics rushed one person by stretcher to an ambulance. | At least two protesters were arrested in the fray, and paramedics rushed one person by stretcher to an ambulance. |
| The clashes — the most violent in weeks — point to a desperation many protesters are starting to feel as the occupation seems headed toward a protracted, but inevitable, end. | The clashes — the most violent in weeks — point to a desperation many protesters are starting to feel as the occupation seems headed toward a protracted, but inevitable, end. |
| From its earliest days, divisions have existed within the movement about how far to push and how aggressively to move against authorities. But by Tuesday night even some who once promoted civility above all else said they have nothing left to lose. | From its earliest days, divisions have existed within the movement about how far to push and how aggressively to move against authorities. But by Tuesday night even some who once promoted civility above all else said they have nothing left to lose. |
| “After this occupation ends, I don’t think there will be another one like it. The government won’t allow it, and we won’t have the momentum for it,” said protester Brian Chan, 21. “That’s why, if there are people — like those who broke in tonight — with something in their hearts that they want to say or do to get their message across before it all ends, I support them.” | “After this occupation ends, I don’t think there will be another one like it. The government won’t allow it, and we won’t have the momentum for it,” said protester Brian Chan, 21. “That’s why, if there are people — like those who broke in tonight — with something in their hearts that they want to say or do to get their message across before it all ends, I support them.” |
| At least one protester appeared to have made it inside the legislative building after the glass was broken. And more than a dozen police officers entered the building afterward through a fire door in an apparent attempt to find intruders. | At least one protester appeared to have made it inside the legislative building after the glass was broken. And more than a dozen police officers entered the building afterward through a fire door in an apparent attempt to find intruders. |
| In recent days, authorities appeared content to clear streets on the edges of the main site and other sites while public opinion continued turning against the occupation as it dragged on. | In recent days, authorities appeared content to clear streets on the edges of the main site and other sites while public opinion continued turning against the occupation as it dragged on. |
| The government appears to be encouraging local businesses to apply for court injunctions against discrete sections of the occupation territory, then sending court bailiffs and police to back up workers enforcing those court orders. | The government appears to be encouraging local businesses to apply for court injunctions against discrete sections of the occupation territory, then sending court bailiffs and police to back up workers enforcing those court orders. |
| “It’s cheating. They should solve political problems with political solutions, not hiding behind the law,” said Liona Li, 19, a Hong Kong University student who skipped two classes to attend the protest Tuesday for fear police would clear the entire main site. | “It’s cheating. They should solve political problems with political solutions, not hiding behind the law,” said Liona Li, 19, a Hong Kong University student who skipped two classes to attend the protest Tuesday for fear police would clear the entire main site. |
| A court order for a protest site in the Mong Kok neighborhood makes it the likely next target for street clearing. | A court order for a protest site in the Mong Kok neighborhood makes it the likely next target for street clearing. |
| A court injunction has also been requested by businesses for Harcourt Road, which runs through the heart of the main encampment, but it has not yet been granted. Once that court order is granted and publicly posted by the government, it could signal a final showdown between the two sides. | A court injunction has also been requested by businesses for Harcourt Road, which runs through the heart of the main encampment, but it has not yet been granted. Once that court order is granted and publicly posted by the government, it could signal a final showdown between the two sides. |
| But by ending the protest this way — through injunctions and incremental clearing, rather than political dialogue — the government is simply setting itself up for future fights, some said. | But by ending the protest this way — through injunctions and incremental clearing, rather than political dialogue — the government is simply setting itself up for future fights, some said. |
| “The students have shown they can mobilize 20,000 people in just a few hours over phones,” said Willy Lam, a political analyst at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “If they leave, it doesn’t mean they won’t come back.” | “The students have shown they can mobilize 20,000 people in just a few hours over phones,” said Willy Lam, a political analyst at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “If they leave, it doesn’t mean they won’t come back.” |
| An end without resolution will also leave much anger and distrust to fester. “They’ve taught an entire generation to hate them and to doubt everything they say,” said Dominic Chiu, who has shown up almost every night at the protest since it began in late September. “What kind of society are we going to be left with in the end?” | An end without resolution will also leave much anger and distrust to fester. “They’ve taught an entire generation to hate them and to doubt everything they say,” said Dominic Chiu, who has shown up almost every night at the protest since it began in late September. “What kind of society are we going to be left with in the end?” |
| Kris Cheng Lok-Chit contributed to this report. | Kris Cheng Lok-Chit contributed to this report. |