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| Clashes Erupt in Hong Kong as Police Try to Clear Part of a Protest Camp | Clashes Erupt in Hong Kong as Police Try to Clear Part of a Protest Camp |
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| HONG KONG — Thousands of demonstrators surged into a Hong Kong neighborhood on Tuesday, defying a police attempt to shrink one of the pro-democracy protest camps that have filled some streets in the city for nearly two months. A police clearance operation in the daytime gave way to a night of angry crowds facing off against officers, who used batons and pepper spray to push back. | HONG KONG — Thousands of demonstrators surged into a Hong Kong neighborhood on Tuesday, defying a police attempt to shrink one of the pro-democracy protest camps that have filled some streets in the city for nearly two months. A police clearance operation in the daytime gave way to a night of angry crowds facing off against officers, who used batons and pepper spray to push back. |
| Hundreds of police officers had assembled on Tuesday to enforce a court injunction demanding that protesters stop blocking Argyle Street in Mong Kok, a crowded commercial neighborhood where demonstrators have camped since late September. Two sites in other areas of Hong Kong are also occupied by protesters, who are demanding fully democratic elections for the city’s leader. | Hundreds of police officers had assembled on Tuesday to enforce a court injunction demanding that protesters stop blocking Argyle Street in Mong Kok, a crowded commercial neighborhood where demonstrators have camped since late September. Two sites in other areas of Hong Kong are also occupied by protesters, who are demanding fully democratic elections for the city’s leader. |
| The police did not try to clear Nathan Road, where most of the protesters in Mong Kok have been camping, and at first the effort appeared to go smoothly. But as has happened repeatedly since the street demonstrations erupted, the police had difficulty maintaining control after initially dispersing the crowds. | The police did not try to clear Nathan Road, where most of the protesters in Mong Kok have been camping, and at first the effort appeared to go smoothly. But as has happened repeatedly since the street demonstrations erupted, the police had difficulty maintaining control after initially dispersing the crowds. |
| In the afternoon, the police encountered growing resistance from protesters and dragged off some of the people who had not left the area set for clearance. Protesters and onlookers massed outside a mall near the cleared street, and the police formed lines to try to get the growing crowd to move on, producing tense, chaotic scenes in the crammed area. By dusk, growing crowds of demonstrators had surged in, and Mong Kok erupted into a night of chaotic clashes. | In the afternoon, the police encountered growing resistance from protesters and dragged off some of the people who had not left the area set for clearance. Protesters and onlookers massed outside a mall near the cleared street, and the police formed lines to try to get the growing crowd to move on, producing tense, chaotic scenes in the crammed area. By dusk, growing crowds of demonstrators had surged in, and Mong Kok erupted into a night of chaotic clashes. |
| “The protests have been losing steam in the past few days, but because of the police clearance, more people have come out today,” said Bruce Lee, 38, a construction worker who was among the protesters. “The government has ceded no ground, offered no concession to us. We will not retreat.” | “The protests have been losing steam in the past few days, but because of the police clearance, more people have come out today,” said Bruce Lee, 38, a construction worker who was among the protesters. “The government has ceded no ground, offered no concession to us. We will not retreat.” |
| The confrontations rumbled late into the night, with crowds behind makeshift barricades facing lines of police officers who used nozzles to disperse pepper spray. But the protesters remained defiant, taunting and berating the officers. As of 6 a.m. on Wednesday, 116 people had been arrested, according to a police spokesman. | |
| Milling groups of protesters discussed plans to push back the police or to defend their remaining area, which was filled with thousands of people. “If too many people go home because of work tomorrow, the police might break through,” said Ross Yang, an event manager in his 20s who was among the masked protesters. “We should keep going, to tell the government that force is not a solution.” | Milling groups of protesters discussed plans to push back the police or to defend their remaining area, which was filled with thousands of people. “If too many people go home because of work tomorrow, the police might break through,” said Ross Yang, an event manager in his 20s who was among the masked protesters. “We should keep going, to tell the government that force is not a solution.” |
| After 10 p.m., the tensions erupted into near panic when officers pushed back a crowd of a thousand or more, sending them spilling onto Nathan Road. The demonstrators then regrouped and held back the hundreds of advancing officers. | After 10 p.m., the tensions erupted into near panic when officers pushed back a crowd of a thousand or more, sending them spilling onto Nathan Road. The demonstrators then regrouped and held back the hundreds of advancing officers. |
| Skirmishes and confrontations between the police and protesters continued at several points around Mong Kok past midnight. Around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, a bitter clash broke out, awakening hundreds of protesters who rushed in to push back against the police, who were moving closer to Nathan Road, the main protest camp. | Skirmishes and confrontations between the police and protesters continued at several points around Mong Kok past midnight. Around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, a bitter clash broke out, awakening hundreds of protesters who rushed in to push back against the police, who were moving closer to Nathan Road, the main protest camp. |
| “I’m here to protect my daughter and the revolution,” said Eric Leung, a postman, standing next to his daughter, a student protester. “We can’t lose Mong Kok. If we do, we must come back.” | “I’m here to protect my daughter and the revolution,” said Eric Leung, a postman, standing next to his daughter, a student protester. “We can’t lose Mong Kok. If we do, we must come back.” |
| Protesters hit by pepper spray were carried back from barricades, and elsewhere the police pulled down people who taunted them. Some protesters left to catch the last trains, but thousands remained. | Protesters hit by pepper spray were carried back from barricades, and elsewhere the police pulled down people who taunted them. Some protesters left to catch the last trains, but thousands remained. |
| As the working day got underway, Nathan Road was strewn with debris and sleeping protesters, exhausted after a night of seesaw confrontations with the police. At the intersections that were the site of fierce standoffs overnight, fewer police officers and protesters were seen. But at one end of the road, new cordons of the police gathered, apparently preparing to help enforce the court injunction to open the road to traffic. | As the working day got underway, Nathan Road was strewn with debris and sleeping protesters, exhausted after a night of seesaw confrontations with the police. At the intersections that were the site of fierce standoffs overnight, fewer police officers and protesters were seen. But at one end of the road, new cordons of the police gathered, apparently preparing to help enforce the court injunction to open the road to traffic. |
| “We’re all so tired,” said Cheng Chung-tai, a teacher at Hong Kong Polytechnic University who is a member of Civic Passion, a political group that has urged defending the Mong Kok site. “Some of us are quite worried that we won’t be able to hold here for another night. There weren’t enough people here last night.” | “We’re all so tired,” said Cheng Chung-tai, a teacher at Hong Kong Polytechnic University who is a member of Civic Passion, a political group that has urged defending the Mong Kok site. “Some of us are quite worried that we won’t be able to hold here for another night. There weren’t enough people here last night.” |
| Growing numbers of protesters have said it is time to consider leaving their street camps. But a minority, which is especially vocal at the Mong Kok site, has argued that only continued defiance can win concessions from the government. | Growing numbers of protesters have said it is time to consider leaving their street camps. But a minority, which is especially vocal at the Mong Kok site, has argued that only continued defiance can win concessions from the government. |
| “If there is enough of a public backlash against the police actions last night, we might be able to come back,” said Anthony Lam, a computer technician who was packing up a tent. “Only if there is enough public anger will there be enough people here to reoccupy somewhere.” | “If there is enough of a public backlash against the police actions last night, we might be able to come back,” said Anthony Lam, a computer technician who was packing up a tent. “Only if there is enough public anger will there be enough people here to reoccupy somewhere.” |
| The demonstrators want the Chinese government to open elections for the city’s leader, or chief executive, to candidates who have not been screened by Beijing. In recent weeks, the loosely organized protest movement has become polarized between moderates, mostly student leaders and older politicians, and more zealous activists. | The demonstrators want the Chinese government to open elections for the city’s leader, or chief executive, to candidates who have not been screened by Beijing. In recent weeks, the loosely organized protest movement has become polarized between moderates, mostly student leaders and older politicians, and more zealous activists. |
| The Hong Kong police indicated that there would be no letup of pressure on Wednesday. But thousands of people remained on the street late into the night. | The Hong Kong police indicated that there would be no letup of pressure on Wednesday. But thousands of people remained on the street late into the night. |
| Mong Kok has seen some of the worst clashes of the protests, which have generally been nonviolent. An attempt by the police to clear the site on Oct. 17 ended in humiliation when thousands of protesters surged in and forced the officers to withdraw. Earlier in October, groups of men, some later identified by the police as members of criminal gangs, attacked protesters there in a failed effort to scatter them. | Mong Kok has seen some of the worst clashes of the protests, which have generally been nonviolent. An attempt by the police to clear the site on Oct. 17 ended in humiliation when thousands of protesters surged in and forced the officers to withdraw. Earlier in October, groups of men, some later identified by the police as members of criminal gangs, attacked protesters there in a failed effort to scatter them. |