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Hong Kong police dismantle pro-democracy protest site and make more arrests Hong Kong police dismantle pro-democracy protest site and make more arrests
(about 1 hour later)
HONG KONG — Police dismantled the last barricades at Hong Kong’s main pro-democracy protest site Thursday and arrested more than 200 activists in an emotion-laded end of a civil disobedience campaign that had lasted more than two months. HONG KONG — Police dismantled the last barricades at Hong Kong’s main pro-democracy protest site Thursday and arrested more than 200 activists in an emotion-laded end to a civil disobedience campaign that had lasted more than two months.
The protests, which began with a surge of optimism in late September, ended without any significant concessions from the governments of Hong Kong or China. Still, some protest leaders chanted “we will be back” as they were carried into police vans after staging a defiant sit-in.The protests, which began with a surge of optimism in late September, ended without any significant concessions from the governments of Hong Kong or China. Still, some protest leaders chanted “we will be back” as they were carried into police vans after staging a defiant sit-in.
The demonstrations represented one of the most serious challenges to the Communist Party’s authority since the 1989 demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. The demonstrations represented one of the most serious challenges to the Communist Party’s authority since the 1989 demonstrations in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
Even if Hong Kong’s protesters failed to achieve their ultimate goal — trying to force Beijing to roll back its controls of Hong Kong elections — supporters said they had awakened a generation to the need to hold on to democratic goals in the former British colony. Even though Hong Kong’s protesters did not achieve their goal — trying to force Beijing to roll back its controls over elections in the former British colony — supporters said they had awakened a generation to the need to hold on to democratic goals.
Earlier in the day, workers in white helmets began dismantling barricades and clearing part of the protest site that was covered by a court injunction. Hundreds of police officers then moved in to slowly and methodically clear the rest of the streets. They met no resistance from protesters. Earlier in the day, workers in white helmets and then police methodically dismantled the barricades, meeting no resistance from protesters
It brought to close 11 weeks of protests in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district, where hundreds of tents had been erected for weeks alongside study areas, a stage and first aid stations. The occupation had filled an eight-lane highway beside key government buildings and on the edge of the business and financial district. It brought to close 11 weeks of protests in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district, where hundreds of tents had been erected alongside study areas, a stage and first-aid stations. The occupation had filled an eight-lane highway beside key government buildings and on the edge of the financial district, with banners calling for democracy dangling from bridges and artwork on display throughout the site.
Banners calling for democracy dangling from bridges and artwork enlivening the site on every side. The protests drew about 100,000 people at their height. Although crowds gradually decreased, about 10,000 people gathered at the Admiralty site for a rally Wednesday evening.
The protests drew around 100,000 people at their height. Although crowds gradually lessened, around 10,000 people gathered at the protest site for a rally Wednesday evening. Before police moved in, protesters packed up many of their tents and carried away some of the artwork. Student leaders rallied the dwindling crowds, which chanted for “full democracy” and “universal suffrage.”
Before the police moved in, protesters packed up many of their tents and carried away some of the artwork. Student leaders rallied the dwindling crowds, who chanted for “full democracy” and “universal suffrage.” Banners at the site promised: “It’s only the beginning.”
Banners at the site defiantly promised: “It’s only the beginning.” By late afternoon, just about 200 protesters remained, sitting on the road in a final act of civil disobedience. Police loaded about 20 large trucks with barricades and other remains from the site. Then, after issuing repeated warnings, they began carrying away the remaining protesters.
By late afternoon, just about 200 protesters remained, sitting on the road in a final act of civil disobedience. Police loaded around 20 large trucks with barricades and other remains. Then, after issuing repeated warnings, they moved in and began carrying away the remaining protesters one by one. Among those arrested were student leaders Alex Chow and Nathan Law, veteran pro-democracy politician Martin Lee, and entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, whose Apple Daily newspaper had strongly supported the protests and who had spent almost every day sitting at the site.
Among those arrested were student leaders Alex Chow and Nathan Law, veteran pro-democracy politician Martin Lee, and entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, whose Apple Daily newspaper had strongly supported the protests and who had personally spent almost every day sitting at the site in Admiralty. Lai raised his right fist before two officers grabbed his arms and led him off.
Lai raised his right fist before two police officers grabbed his arms and led him off. “I believe in the concept of civil disobedience,” said 25-year-old hotel employee Manny Chan, not long before he, too, was led away by police. “To fight injustice, we have to get arrested. I would feel very irresponsible if I just leave.”
“I believe in the concept of civil disobedience,” said 25-year-old hotel employee Manny Chan, not long before he, too, was led away by police. “To fight injustice we have to get arrested. I would feel very irresponsible if I just leave.” Evidence has emerged that authorities have drawn up a black list of those involved in the protests, with several young people denied entry into mainland China in recent weeks. Students fear that this could damage their employment prospects, and some people stayed away or left the site earlier Thursday for that reason.
Evidence has emerged that authorities have drawn up a black list of those involved in the protests, with several young people denied entry into mainland China in recent weeks. Students fear this could damage their employment prospects in the future, and some people stayed away or left the site earlier on Thursday for that reason. “I don’t want to be arrested,” said homemaker Wah Yeung, 58, adding that police had taken her identity card number after she took part in a march last week. “Sometimes I have to go to China, and I cannot risk being denied entry. This is white terror.”
“I don’t want to be arrested,” said 58-year-old housewife Wah Yeung, who said police had taken her identity card number when she took part in a protest march last week. She left the site before the final sit-in. “Sometimes I have to go to China, and I cannot risk being denied entry. This is white terror.” Vicky Chan, a 22-year-old administrator at a nongovernmental organization, said she had “struggled” over whether to face down police and risk arrest. In the end, she slipped away minutes before police moved in.
Vicky Chan, a 22-year-old administrator at a non-governmental organization, said she had “struggled” over whether to face down police and risk arrest. In the end, she slipped away minutes before police moved in to arrest her. But many people — both young and old — said they would return in the future.
But many people said they would return in the future — both young people and old. “I don’t want this protest to end,” said Mak Sui-fong, 82, claiming that Hong Kong was being destroyed by its chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, whom she described as a puppet of China. “If I wasn’t this old, I would be on the front line.”
“I don't want this protest to end,” said 82-year-old woman Mak Sui-fong, claiming that Hong Kong was being destroyed by its own chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, whom she described as a puppet of China. “If I wasn’t this old, I would be on the front line.” The demonstrators have been demanding full democracy for Hong Kong, with an open process to nominate candidates to replace Leung in a 2017 election. Beijing demands the right to control the nomination process, and the Hong Kong government, arguing that its hands were tied, has refused to make concessions to the protesters.
The demonstrators have been demanding full democracy for Hong Kong, with an open process to nominate candidates to replace Leung in elections scheduled for 2017. Beijing demands the right to control the nomination process, and the Hong Kong government, arguing that its hands were tied, has refused to make concessions to the protesters. Support for the protests has waned in recent weeks, and the city has become increasingly polarized . Nevertheless, the desire for democracy in Hong Kong remains strong, with the younger generation increasingly politicized and alienated from the Communist Party.
Support for the protests has waned in recent weeks, and the city has become increasingly polarized. Nevertheless, the desire for democracy in Hong Kong remains strong, with the younger generation increasingly politicized and alienated from the Communist Party. “We want to tell the government we will increase in strength and with each protest we will get more people involved,” Chow, leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said before his arrest. “Today the government is clearing the protest sites, but they can’t clear the problem.”
“We want to tell the government we will increase in strength and with each protest we will get more people involved,” said Chow, the leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, before his arrest. “Today the government is clearing the protest sites, but they can’t clear the problem.” Joseph Cheng, a political science professor at the City University of Hong University who had advised the protest leaders, said the campaign had drawn many more people than expected, won the sympathy of the international community and remained largely peaceful.
Joseph Cheng, a political science professor at the City University of Hong University who had advised the protest leaders, said the campaign had drawn many more people than anyone had expected, won the sympathy of the international community and had remained largely peaceful. But he said its spontaneous nature meant that it lacked universally accepted leaders, making a withdrawal harder to coordinate when it became obvious that the government would not budge.
But he said its spontaneous nature meant it lacked universally accepted leaders, making a withdrawal harder to coordinate when it became obvious the government would not budge.
“With the benefit of hindsight, if the protesters had withdrawn after seven or 10 days, it would have been much better,” he said.“With the benefit of hindsight, if the protesters had withdrawn after seven or 10 days, it would have been much better,” he said.
The problem will now be to maintain the momentum, especially when the Chinese government has made it clear it is not about to give in. “It is a serious challenge,” said Cheng. “We have nothing we can deliver in concrete terms in the near future.” The problem will now be to maintain the momentum, especially when the Chinese government has made it clear it is not about to give in, Cheng said. “We have nothing we can deliver in concrete terms in the near future.”
The campaign for democracy has become known as the Umbrella Movement, after protesters sheltered behind them when police used tear gas and pepper spray at the start of the protests. Police said they had arrested 209 people at the sit-in, bringing the total number of arrests during the entire protest to more than 850. About 129 police officers were injured in clashes in the past 11 weeks, and many protesters also have been hurt, with police hitting them with batons, kicking them and using pepper spray.
Police said they had arrested 209 people at the sit-in, bringing the total number of arrests during the entire protest to more than 850. Some 129 police officers were injured in clashes over the course of the past 11 weeks, while many protesters have also been hurt, hit with batons, kicked by police or sprayed in the eyes.
Protesters are now setting their sights on a possible rally on New Year’s Day, and considering another possible campaign of civil disobedience when the city’s legislature debates the government’s proposals for political reforms next year.Protesters are now setting their sights on a possible rally on New Year’s Day, and considering another possible campaign of civil disobedience when the city’s legislature debates the government’s proposals for political reforms next year.
The protests may have gripped the world’s attention, but they have seemingly been largely ignored by many people on the Chinese mainland, where state media has consistently vilified the protesters as a small, irrational group doing the bidding of Western powers. The protests have seemingly been largely ignored by many on the Chinese mainland, where state media has consistently vilified the protesters as a small, irrational group doing the bidding of Western powers.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei called the protests “utterly illegal.” There was little reaction on Chinese social media to the protest site’s clearance on Thursday.
“The Hong Kong government has the right to deal with the issue with law, to maintain social order and stability,” he told a news conference in Beijing on Thursday.
There was little reaction to the clearance on Chinese social media on Thursday.
Denyer reported from Beijing. Gu Jinglu contributed to this report.Denyer reported from Beijing. Gu Jinglu contributed to this report.