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| Hong Kong Police Begin Removing Protesters as Dismantling of Camp Proceeds | Hong Kong Police Begin Removing Protesters as Dismantling of Camp Proceeds |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| HONG KONG — Dozens of the most prominent members of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement offered themselves up for arrest on Thursday, in a show of shared defiance after the police began dismantling a protest camp that for more than 10 weeks posed a dramatic challenge to the government’s restrictive election plans. | HONG KONG — Dozens of the most prominent members of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement offered themselves up for arrest on Thursday, in a show of shared defiance after the police began dismantling a protest camp that for more than 10 weeks posed a dramatic challenge to the government’s restrictive election plans. |
| The police had warned people to leave the street camp in the Admiralty district near the government offices, but hundreds of protesters stayed, risking arrest after officers surrounded the area and issued repeated warnings to depart. | The police had warned people to leave the street camp in the Admiralty district near the government offices, but hundreds of protesters stayed, risking arrest after officers surrounded the area and issued repeated warnings to depart. |
| “Our determination is the message we want to give out,” said Lee Cheuk-yan, a longtime labor leader and pro-democracy lawmaker. “The young people have awakened, this is really the gain of the movement.” | “Our determination is the message we want to give out,” said Lee Cheuk-yan, a longtime labor leader and pro-democracy lawmaker. “The young people have awakened, this is really the gain of the movement.” |
| The holdouts included a roll call of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement: lawyers, legislators, student leaders and Jimmy Lai, the media mogul who has regularly challenged the Chinese government. Mr. Lai was taken away by the police in silence. Emily Lau, chairwoman of the Democratic Party, chanted “I want true universal suffrage — civil disobedience!” as she was led away, pumping her fist in the air. Other protesters were carried away. | |
| Their willingness to face arrest laid bare the deep political divisions in Hong Kong that have played out in the protests, which spilled onto the streets in late September, when thousands of protesters occupied three sites across the city. The Admiralty site was the last large protest camp; another, in the Mong Kok district, was cleared late last month. | Their willingness to face arrest laid bare the deep political divisions in Hong Kong that have played out in the protests, which spilled onto the streets in late September, when thousands of protesters occupied three sites across the city. The Admiralty site was the last large protest camp; another, in the Mong Kok district, was cleared late last month. |
| As some police officers carried or led the defiant protesters into a white bus with barred windows, others advanced through the sprawling Admiralty site, tearing down tents and stripping down the posters, signs and drawings that have festooned the camp. Large trucks with claw-like cranes mounted on the back were used to clear away debris. | |
| The long-expected operation to clear the site had begun hours earlier, facing little if any resistance. In the morning, the police without incident cleared away barricades from a small part of the camp that was covered by a court injunction. But demonstrators had already essentially abandoned that area, and it was unclear whether the clearance of the entire camp would proceed as smoothly. | |
| A senior police superintendent, Kwok Pak-chung, warned protesters at a brief news conference that “if you refuse to leave, police will take action to disperse or arrest.” While the protests have mostly been peaceful, demonstrators and the police have at times clashed. | A senior police superintendent, Kwok Pak-chung, warned protesters at a brief news conference that “if you refuse to leave, police will take action to disperse or arrest.” While the protests have mostly been peaceful, demonstrators and the police have at times clashed. |
| After the police issued a warning by loudspeaker to leave or face arrest, hundreds of officers began moving slowly into the larger encampment from two directions, taking down tents, banners and other material. | After the police issued a warning by loudspeaker to leave or face arrest, hundreds of officers began moving slowly into the larger encampment from two directions, taking down tents, banners and other material. |
| People filed peacefully out of the camp at a designated police checkpoint, where they were asked to present identification; the police had warned earlier that anyone who stayed past a certain time would be subject to possible legal action. | People filed peacefully out of the camp at a designated police checkpoint, where they were asked to present identification; the police had warned earlier that anyone who stayed past a certain time would be subject to possible legal action. |
| Meanwhile, the dozens who had decided to be arrested sat waiting for the police. One of them was Liu Chu-tong, a 27-year-old graphic designer who said he had been volunteering at one of the camp’s first-aid booths for weeks. | Meanwhile, the dozens who had decided to be arrested sat waiting for the police. One of them was Liu Chu-tong, a 27-year-old graphic designer who said he had been volunteering at one of the camp’s first-aid booths for weeks. |
| “I chose to stay here to get arrested because I think it could touch more people,” Mr. Liu said. “That’s how I came out in the first place — I was moved by the students.” | “I chose to stay here to get arrested because I think it could touch more people,” Mr. Liu said. “That’s how I came out in the first place — I was moved by the students.” |
| He added, “In the end, it’s not just about fighting for true universal suffrage, but awakening more people to care about politics. We’re writing history every day.” | He added, “In the end, it’s not just about fighting for true universal suffrage, but awakening more people to care about politics. We’re writing history every day.” |
| Elsewhere in Hong Kong, several well-known participants in the protest movement were arrested in or near their homes on Thursday. They included Wong Yeung-tat, leader of a group called Civic Passion, who was arrested on suspicion of participating in unlawful assemblies, according to his wife, Chan Sau-wai. | Elsewhere in Hong Kong, several well-known participants in the protest movement were arrested in or near their homes on Thursday. They included Wong Yeung-tat, leader of a group called Civic Passion, who was arrested on suspicion of participating in unlawful assemblies, according to his wife, Chan Sau-wai. |
| The protesters in Admiralty who ignored the police warnings to leave included clusters of young men and women in the by-now-familiar garb of frontline activists: safety and motorcycle helmets, masks, elbow and knee protectors, and sometimes plastic shields. Some said they would not court confrontation with the police but were prepared for it. | The protesters in Admiralty who ignored the police warnings to leave included clusters of young men and women in the by-now-familiar garb of frontline activists: safety and motorcycle helmets, masks, elbow and knee protectors, and sometimes plastic shields. Some said they would not court confrontation with the police but were prepared for it. |
| “Experience shows the police have used violence, so we have to be prepared,” said one protester wearing a motorcycle helmet, a teacher who gave only his surname, Chu. “We can’t predict how heavily the police will use force, but we’re ready to protect ourselves.” | “Experience shows the police have used violence, so we have to be prepared,” said one protester wearing a motorcycle helmet, a teacher who gave only his surname, Chu. “We can’t predict how heavily the police will use force, but we’re ready to protect ourselves.” |
| “We’ll stay as long as we can but don’t want to get caught,” said Arki Cheng, a social worker in his 20s who was looking for somewhere safe to store his tent and other belongings. “As long as we have enough people, I’m not so afraid,” he said. “It’s important to show that even if we leave, it is with resistance.” But other people scurried to leave, arms full of belongings. | “We’ll stay as long as we can but don’t want to get caught,” said Arki Cheng, a social worker in his 20s who was looking for somewhere safe to store his tent and other belongings. “As long as we have enough people, I’m not so afraid,” he said. “It’s important to show that even if we leave, it is with resistance.” But other people scurried to leave, arms full of belongings. |
| In Tamar Park, a grassy expanse beside the government buildings, medical volunteers had set up four first-aid tents, in case people were injured in the impending clearance. “We’re most of all prepared for pepper spray,” said a medical student at one of the tents, who gave only her surname, Wu. | In Tamar Park, a grassy expanse beside the government buildings, medical volunteers had set up four first-aid tents, in case people were injured in the impending clearance. “We’re most of all prepared for pepper spray,” said a medical student at one of the tents, who gave only her surname, Wu. |
| The protesters are calling for fully democratic elections for the city’s leader, or chief executive. They object to the Chinese government’s framework for the elections, which for the first time would allow the general public to vote for the chief executive but would effectively let Beijing screen the candidates. | The protesters are calling for fully democratic elections for the city’s leader, or chief executive. They object to the Chinese government’s framework for the elections, which for the first time would allow the general public to vote for the chief executive but would effectively let Beijing screen the candidates. |