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Hong Kong Protesters Clash With Police After Defying Ban Hong Kong Protesters Clash With Police After Defying Ban
(about 1 hour later)
HONG KONG — In a day of defiance and chaos, Hong Kong protesters who had been banned from protesting on Saturday gathered anyway, clashing with the police near local government offices and the Chinese military headquarters in the most intense day of conflict since the protests began in June.HONG KONG — In a day of defiance and chaos, Hong Kong protesters who had been banned from protesting on Saturday gathered anyway, clashing with the police near local government offices and the Chinese military headquarters in the most intense day of conflict since the protests began in June.
As government helicopters hovered above the city, riot police officers used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons at crowds of protesters who had gathered outside government offices and the headquarters of the Hong Kong legislature. Some of the protesters had thrown firebombs at nearby police barricades. As government helicopters hovered above the city, riot police officers used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons on crowds of protesters who had gathered outside government offices and the headquarters of the Hong Kong legislature. Some of the protesters had thrown firebombs at nearby police barricades.
The police pumped lurid gushes of blue-dyed water into knots of protesters, indelibly marking those who were at the most intense spots of clashes at the center of the city’s transportation and government hub on Hong Kong Island. And by nightfall, a makeshift barricade that protesters had erected across a nearby road had been set on fire, sending a plumes of black smoke through canyons of skyscrapers and blinking neon signs.The police pumped lurid gushes of blue-dyed water into knots of protesters, indelibly marking those who were at the most intense spots of clashes at the center of the city’s transportation and government hub on Hong Kong Island. And by nightfall, a makeshift barricade that protesters had erected across a nearby road had been set on fire, sending a plumes of black smoke through canyons of skyscrapers and blinking neon signs.
[City on edge: Photographs from Hong Kong’s summer of protest][City on edge: Photographs from Hong Kong’s summer of protest]
The eruptions of fire and water — five years to the day after outrage at a government ruling sparked the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests — were a sign of deepening frustration and determination on both sides of Hong Kong’s worst political crisis since the former British colony returned to Chinese control in 1997. The eruptions of fire and water — five years to the day after outrage at a government ruling set off the 2014 Umbrella Movement protests — were a sign of deepening frustration and determination on both sides of Hong Kong’s worst political crisis since the former British colony returned to Chinese control in 1997.
In one corner sits a protest movement that in recent days had been served threat after threat from pro-Beijing officials and police within Hong Kong, and, more ominously, from Chinese Communist Party officials on the mainland. In one corner sits a protest movement that in recent days had been served threat after threat from pro-Beijing officials and the police within Hong Kong, and, more ominously, from Chinese Communist Party officials on the mainland.
Jess Chan, 23, a kindergarten teacher who was handing out jackets near the site where protesters were clashing with police in the pouring rain on Saturday, said there was a measure of desperation in the air because many were students who would soon return to class. Jess Chan, 23, a kindergarten teacher who was handing out jackets near the site where protesters were clashing with the police in the pouring rain on Saturday, said there was a measure of desperation in the air because many were students who would soon return to class.
Ms. Chan said there was also a fear that Beijing would try to clamp down further on the protest movement before October 1, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Ms. Chan said there was also a fear that Beijing would try to clamp down further on the protest movement before Oct. 1, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
“This is the last war,” she said.“This is the last war,” she said.
The authorities, for their part, have signaled that no more defiance would be tolerated, intensifying a campaign of arrests and rejecting the thought of compromising on any of the protesters demands. On Friday, several of the most prominent pro-democracy lawmakers and activists in the city were rounded up by the police, in an unmistakable warning that the authorities would brook no infractions of a ban they had lowered on the march that an established advocacy group had planned for Saturday.The authorities, for their part, have signaled that no more defiance would be tolerated, intensifying a campaign of arrests and rejecting the thought of compromising on any of the protesters demands. On Friday, several of the most prominent pro-democracy lawmakers and activists in the city were rounded up by the police, in an unmistakable warning that the authorities would brook no infractions of a ban they had lowered on the march that an established advocacy group had planned for Saturday.
Around midday on Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters began gathering anyway in central areas of the city, at first peacefully, as they moved west toward more government offices and the home of Carrie Lam, the territory’s besieged chief executive.Around midday on Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters began gathering anyway in central areas of the city, at first peacefully, as they moved west toward more government offices and the home of Carrie Lam, the territory’s besieged chief executive.
“You are in breach of the law,” read a black-and-yellow sign that a police officer held aloft at a playground gathering area early on. “You may be prosecuted.”“You are in breach of the law,” read a black-and-yellow sign that a police officer held aloft at a playground gathering area early on. “You may be prosecuted.”
[Beijing pledged “one country, two systems” when it took back Hong Kong. Many fear it is eroding freedoms.][Beijing pledged “one country, two systems” when it took back Hong Kong. Many fear it is eroding freedoms.]
By 3 p.m., throngs of marchers had snarled traffic on several major roads in the pouring rain, as riot police officers blocked roads in the central business district that led uphill toward Mrs. Lam’s residence. Some protesters taunted the officers — who the movement has previously accused of using excessive force and working with criminal gangs — by shouting “trash” and “crooked cops.” By 3 p.m., throngs of marchers had snarled traffic on several major roads in the pouring rain, as riot police officers blocked roads in the central business district that led uphill toward Mrs. Lam’s residence. Some protesters taunted the officers — whom the movement has previously accused of using excessive force and working with criminal gangs — by shouting “trash” and “crooked cops.”
As dusk approached and two government helicopters hovered above Hong Kong Island, a broad swath of the city’s downtown had been brought to a standstill, either by protesters or the makeshift barricades they had built across roads. And in a harborside park outside government offices and the city’s legislature, protesters began spraying graffiti on the water-filled barriers that the police had erected outside the buildings, and launching firebombs As dusk approached and two government helicopters hovered above Hong Kong Island, a broad swath of the city’s downtown had been brought to a standstill, either by protesters or the makeshift barricades they had built across roads. And in a harborside park outside government offices and the city’s legislature, protesters began spraying graffiti on the water-filled barriers that the police had erected outside the buildings, and launching firebombs.
Tear gas and gushes of blue-dyed water were deployed soon afterward, and phalanxes of riot police then began clearing crowds across downtown. Tear gas and gushes of blue-dyed water were deployed soon afterward, and phalanxes of riot police officers then began clearing crowds across downtown.
Fire trucks eventually extinguished the giant blaze that had erupted on the protest barricade. But, with tear gas heavy on the air and police sirens wailing, many protesters began traveling east toward a shopping district they had occupied earlier in the day. Others smashed security cameras and set up new barricades.Fire trucks eventually extinguished the giant blaze that had erupted on the protest barricade. But, with tear gas heavy on the air and police sirens wailing, many protesters began traveling east toward a shopping district they had occupied earlier in the day. Others smashed security cameras and set up new barricades.
By 8 p.m., it seemed likely that violent street clashes and flashmob-style civil disobedience would continue for hours.By 8 p.m., it seemed likely that violent street clashes and flashmob-style civil disobedience would continue for hours.
Hong Kong’s current political crisis was set off by widespread anger over a bill that would allow criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China for trial. The measure, which critics said could be used to target activists, has been suspended, but not withdrawn as protesters have demanded. Demonstrators’ demands have since expanded to include universal suffrage and an investigation of the police.Hong Kong’s current political crisis was set off by widespread anger over a bill that would allow criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China for trial. The measure, which critics said could be used to target activists, has been suspended, but not withdrawn as protesters have demanded. Demonstrators’ demands have since expanded to include universal suffrage and an investigation of the police.
The police arrested at least three prominent activists on Friday, including Joshua Wong, a well-known leader of the Umbrella Movement, and Agnes Chow, on unauthorized assembly charges related to a June 21 protest in which thousands of people surrounded the police headquarters.The police arrested at least three prominent activists on Friday, including Joshua Wong, a well-known leader of the Umbrella Movement, and Agnes Chow, on unauthorized assembly charges related to a June 21 protest in which thousands of people surrounded the police headquarters.
Three lawmakers from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy legislative minority — Cheng Chung-tai, Au Nok-hin and Jeremy Tam — were also arrested on Friday, on charges related to their participation in the protests this summer. Mr. Au and Mr. Tam were released on bail on Saturday, but it appeared that Mr. Cheng was still being held.Three lawmakers from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy legislative minority — Cheng Chung-tai, Au Nok-hin and Jeremy Tam — were also arrested on Friday, on charges related to their participation in the protests this summer. Mr. Au and Mr. Tam were released on bail on Saturday, but it appeared that Mr. Cheng was still being held.
Mr. Wong, meanwhile, was already back on the streets, though subject to a police-imposed 11 p.m. curfew.Mr. Wong, meanwhile, was already back on the streets, though subject to a police-imposed 11 p.m. curfew.
“The price I paid is just a small piece of cake” compared with what other protesters have been through, he told reporters.“The price I paid is just a small piece of cake” compared with what other protesters have been through, he told reporters.
[How the protests in Hong Kong have evolved, with changing tactics, goals and more violence.][How the protests in Hong Kong have evolved, with changing tactics, goals and more violence.]
Vincent Ho, 40, began protesting early afternoon Saturday with his wife and their 10-year-old son. He said that he had wondered whether it was safe to bring his son, but that they planned to leave before anything dangerous happened.Vincent Ho, 40, began protesting early afternoon Saturday with his wife and their 10-year-old son. He said that he had wondered whether it was safe to bring his son, but that they planned to leave before anything dangerous happened.
Mr. Ho, who works at a bank, said measures like the extradition bill would make him question whether he was comfortable having his son grow up in the city.Mr. Ho, who works at a bank, said measures like the extradition bill would make him question whether he was comfortable having his son grow up in the city.
“Our freedom is being taken away,” he said. “Our system is being destroyed, and without that, it’s not Hong Kong anymore.”“Our freedom is being taken away,” he said. “Our system is being destroyed, and without that, it’s not Hong Kong anymore.”
In recent days, China’s news media have underlined the Communist Party’s warnings against the protesters by publicizing reports that units of China’s militia, the People’s Armed Police, have been on the move in Shenzhen, the Chinese city next to Hong Kong, and training to suppress protests.In recent days, China’s news media have underlined the Communist Party’s warnings against the protesters by publicizing reports that units of China’s militia, the People’s Armed Police, have been on the move in Shenzhen, the Chinese city next to Hong Kong, and training to suppress protests.
On Saturday, several Chinese news media showed a 30-second video online that they said showed anti-riot police and People’s Armed Police troops on trucks and buses near Shenzhen’s frontier with Hong Kong.On Saturday, several Chinese news media showed a 30-second video online that they said showed anti-riot police and People’s Armed Police troops on trucks and buses near Shenzhen’s frontier with Hong Kong.
People’s Daily, the main newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, also warned Saturday that Beijing would not stand on the sidelines if the Hong Kong government was overwhelmed by “turmoil.” It likened the protesters to arrogant ants, warning that they stood no chance of prevailing over the central leadership in Beijing.People’s Daily, the main newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, also warned Saturday that Beijing would not stand on the sidelines if the Hong Kong government was overwhelmed by “turmoil.” It likened the protesters to arrogant ants, warning that they stood no chance of prevailing over the central leadership in Beijing.
Street violence has come in fits and starts during this summer’s protests, and life in Hong Kong has otherwise proceeded relatively normally. But there is growing fear among a wide cross-section of Hong Kong society that the violence, which has included a mob attack on protesters, could eventually lead to deaths.Street violence has come in fits and starts during this summer’s protests, and life in Hong Kong has otherwise proceeded relatively normally. But there is growing fear among a wide cross-section of Hong Kong society that the violence, which has included a mob attack on protesters, could eventually lead to deaths.
Some protesters have in recent weeks thrown bricks, firebombs and other objects at the police, who as of mid-August had fired more than 1,800 rounds of tear gas, plus rubber bullets and beanbag rounds, to disperse crowds.Some protesters have in recent weeks thrown bricks, firebombs and other objects at the police, who as of mid-August had fired more than 1,800 rounds of tear gas, plus rubber bullets and beanbag rounds, to disperse crowds.
Last weekend, the police used water cannon trucks for the first time since the protests began in June, and a few officers drew pistols on protesters, some of whom were charging at them with sticks. And on Friday night, the Hong Kong news media reported, an off-duty police officer was stabbed during an attack by three masked men in a train station. He remained conscious but suffered bone-deep wounds.Last weekend, the police used water cannon trucks for the first time since the protests began in June, and a few officers drew pistols on protesters, some of whom were charging at them with sticks. And on Friday night, the Hong Kong news media reported, an off-duty police officer was stabbed during an attack by three masked men in a train station. He remained conscious but suffered bone-deep wounds.
Mrs. Lam, the territory’s chief executive, said on Tuesday that the government was looking into “all laws in Hong Kong — if they can provide a legal means to stop violence and chaos.”Mrs. Lam, the territory’s chief executive, said on Tuesday that the government was looking into “all laws in Hong Kong — if they can provide a legal means to stop violence and chaos.”
Mrs. Lam was answering a question about whether she was considering use of Hong Kong’s sweeping Emergency Regulations Ordinance, a colonial-era law that grants Hong Kong’s leader broad powers to “make any regulations whatsoever which he may consider desirable in the public interest.” One fear is that the law could be used to justify blocking some of the messaging apps that are popular with protesters.Mrs. Lam was answering a question about whether she was considering use of Hong Kong’s sweeping Emergency Regulations Ordinance, a colonial-era law that grants Hong Kong’s leader broad powers to “make any regulations whatsoever which he may consider desirable in the public interest.” One fear is that the law could be used to justify blocking some of the messaging apps that are popular with protesters.