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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 — Crowds of masked pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong defied official warnings, set fires in the streets and battled the police on Saturday in the most intense clashes since the demonstrations over the city’s fate began in June. HONG KONG — Crowds of masked protesters in Hong Kong defied official warnings, set fires in the streets and battled the police on Saturday in the most intense clashes since prodemocracy demonstrations here began in June.
As government helicopters hovered above, the riot police fired tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons at protesters outside government offices and the Chinese military’s local headquarters. Some of the demonstrators threw firebombs at police barricades. As government helicopters hovered above the city, the riot police fired tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons at protesters outside government offices and the Chinese military’s local headquarters. Some in the crowd threw firebombs at police barricades.
The police pumped blue-dyed water into knots of protesters, starkly marking them to make it easier for officers to make arrests. And by nightfall, a makeshift barricade that protesters had erected across a road had been set on fire, sending a plume of black smoke through canyons of skyscrapers and blinking neon signs.The police pumped blue-dyed water into knots of protesters, starkly marking them to make it easier for officers to make arrests. And by nightfall, a makeshift barricade that protesters had erected across a road had been set on fire, sending a plume 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]
Tensions had been running high, partly because the protests marked the fifth anniversary of the day the Chinese government announced a plan for limited democracy in this semiautonomous former British colony. That decision angered many in Hong Kong, and it set off months of large-scale protests in 2014 known as the Umbrella Movement. Tensions had been running high, partly because the protests marked the fifth anniversary of the day the Chinese government rejected proposals for fully democratic elections in favor of a more limited voting plan in this semiautonomous former British colony. That decision angered many in Hong Kong, and it set off months of large-scale protests in 2014 known as the Umbrella Movement.
Even as the clashes were still unfolding across the city, the Hong Kong government said Saturday that it would not reopen negotiations on proposals to increase democracy despite demands for a “one person, one vote” system to elect the city’s leader and legislature directly without interference from Beijing. The Hong Kong government said Saturday it would not reopen negotiations on proposals to increase democracy despite demands for a “one person, one vote” system to elect the city’s leader and legislature directly without interference from Beijing.
“Rashly embarking on political reform again will further polarize society, which is an irresponsible act,” the statement said. “Any discussions on constitutional development have to be premised on the legal basis, and be conducted under a peaceful atmosphere with mutual trust in a pragmatic manner.” “Rashly embarking on political reform again will further polarize society, which is an irresponsible act,” the government said. “Any discussions on constitutional development have to be premised on the legal basis, and be conducted under a peaceful atmosphere with mutual trust in a pragmatic manner.”
Top Chinese officials, along with the Hong Kong officials who answer to them, have ruled out making concessions to the demonstrators and have pushed a campaign of stepped-up arrests, according to veteran members of the city’s political establishment. Beijing also does not want anything to mar its Oct. 1 celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Top Chinese officials, along with the Hong Kong officials who answer to them, have ruled out concessions to the demonstrators and have pushed a campaign of stepped-up arrests, according to veteran members of the city’s political establishment. Beijing also does not want anything to mar its Oct. 1 celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
The eruptions of fire and water on Saturday were a further sign of deepening frustration and determination on both sides of Hong Kong’s worst political crisis since the territory returned to Chinese control in 1997.The eruptions of fire and water on Saturday were a further sign of deepening frustration and determination on both sides of Hong Kong’s worst political crisis since the territory returned to Chinese control in 1997.
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 of the coming Oct. 1 anniversary and the fact that many protesters 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 desperation in the air because of the coming Oct. 1 anniversary and the fact that many protesters were students who would soon return to class.
“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 will be tolerated. On Friday, several of the most prominent pro-democracy lawmakers and activists in the city were rounded up by the police, though many were later released on bail.The authorities, for their part, have signaled that no more defiance will be tolerated. On Friday, several of the most prominent pro-democracy lawmakers and activists in the city were rounded up by the police, though many were later released on bail.
Around midday on Saturday, tens of thousands of black-clad protesters began gathering, peacefully at first, in central areas of the city despite the government’s decision to prohibit a demonstration. They marched toward government offices and the home of Carrie Lam, the territory’s besieged chief executive.Around midday on Saturday, tens of thousands of black-clad protesters began gathering, peacefully at first, in central areas of the city despite the government’s decision to prohibit a demonstration. They marched toward 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 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 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. By 3 p.m., throngs of marchers had snarled traffic on several major roads in the pouring rain, as riot police officers blocked streets in the central business district that led uphill toward Mrs. Lam’s residence.
As dusk approached, much 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, much of the city’s downtown had been brought to a standstill, either by protesters or the makeshift barricades they had built. 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.
The police responded with tear gas and the blue-dyed water, and phalanxes of officers then began clearing crowds across downtown, making arrests and in some cases shooting what appeared to be rubber bullets. The police later said “minimum force” had been used to disperse protesters after “repeated and futile warnings.”The police responded with tear gas and the blue-dyed water, and phalanxes of officers then began clearing crowds across downtown, making arrests and in some cases shooting what appeared to be rubber bullets. The police later said “minimum force” had been used to disperse protesters after “repeated and futile warnings.”
Fire trucks eventually extinguished a giant blaze that had erupted atop the protest barricade. But, with tear gas heavy in the air and police sirens wailing, many protesters began traveling east toward a shopping district they had occupied earlier in the day. Some of them smashed security cameras, set up new barricades and sprayed graffiti in a train station. Fire trucks eventually extinguished the giant blaze that had erupted atop the protest barricade. But with tear gas heavy in the air and police sirens wailing, many protesters began moving to other districts on Hong Kong Island and across the city’s harbor to the Kowloon Peninsula. Some of them smashed security cameras, set up new barricades, threw more firebombs and vandalized train stations.
By 10 p.m., as street clashes continued across the city, there was still no sign of peace. By late evening, clashes between protesters and the police were still flaring across the city, including in a train station. Services on two major rail lines were eventually suspended, and the South China Morning Post newspaper reported that a police officer on Hong Kong Island had fired his gun in the air as a warning.
Hong Kong’s 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 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.
[How the protests in Hong Kong have evolved, with changing tactics and goals, and more violence.][How the protests in Hong Kong have evolved, with changing tactics and 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, who began protesting early on Saturday afternoon with his wife and their 10-year-old son, said that measures like the extradition bill had made 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 had made him question whether he was comfortable having his son grow up in the city. “Our freedom is being taken away,” said Mr. Ho, 40, who works at a bank. “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 mainland 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 mainland 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.