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Hong Kong protest: police fire rounds of teargas at protesters trying to leave campus – live Hong Kong protest: police fire rounds of teargas at protesters trying to leave campus – live
(32 minutes later)
Chaotic scenes on outskirts of campus, as hundreds remain trapped insideChaotic scenes on outskirts of campus, as hundreds remain trapped inside
Hong Kong media is now reporting that district council elections may not be held this Sunday as scheduled because of the ongoing demonstrations, which included the arrest of 154 people on the weekend (bringing the total number of those arrested throughout the five-month movement to 4,491).
The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Patrick Nip, told RTHK news that the government’s position was that it would still endeavour to hold the elections. the government’s position is clear that it will try its very best to ensure that the polls can go ahead smoothly.
“However, the situation in the past weekend has obviously reduced the chance of holding the elections as scheduled and I’m very worried and anxious about this,” Nip said. “I must say that postponing the election is a difficult decision to make and we will not take this step unless absolutely necessary.”
Cancelling elections is likely to make things much worse. Some protesters have been demanding that the government promise to hold the polls, seen as the last institutional venue people have for expressing their views.
Hong Kong’s protest movement has evolved throughout the five months it has raged in the harbour city. Its latest phase is taking place on Hong Kong’s university campuses — traditionally sites of political activism — some of which have been transformed into makeshift fortresses by demonstrators in the past fortnight.
The immediate trigger for the battle to shift to campuses appears to have been the 8 November death of a Hong Kong University of Science and Technology student. Since then, several campuses have been barricaded by students, some of who are using footbridges or or near the campuses to block major roads. At least three campuses are currently blockaded, including most prominently the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, close to the cross-harbour tunnel — a key artery for traffic in the city, and one that authorities will be determined to keep open.
The campus confrontations have been desperate: activists are using petrol bombs, bamboo poles and other weapons including javelins and bows and arrows. Observers have told the Guardian the shift to campuses represents a major escalation. Many of those occupying the campuses are current students or alumni, and until recently, riot police have refrained from entering universities.
“The university is the home turf of the students,” Ho-Fung Hung, a professor in political economy at Johns Hopkins University, has told the Guardian. “There is this notion of academic freedom and the university as a bastion of free ideas, this notion of autonomy. To people, this should not be breached by authorities.”
There has been confusion throughout Monday about whether protesters will be allowed to leave the besieged university campus they have been occupying for the past few days. Earlier attempts to escape have been met with tear gas and arrest, prompting some of the protesters to retreat back inside.There has been confusion throughout Monday about whether protesters will be allowed to leave the besieged university campus they have been occupying for the past few days. Earlier attempts to escape have been met with tear gas and arrest, prompting some of the protesters to retreat back inside.
Hong Kong police have just issued a statement saying the Red Cross has been allowed onto the campus and will be allowed to convey some students to hospital “if necessary”.Hong Kong police have just issued a statement saying the Red Cross has been allowed onto the campus and will be allowed to convey some students to hospital “if necessary”.
Here’s the statement:Here’s the statement:
Police have formed a tight perimeter around Hong Kong Polytechnic University and are not letting anyone in, including journalists. Protesters trying to escape have been tear gassed and arrested, and some have retreated back inside.Police have formed a tight perimeter around Hong Kong Polytechnic University and are not letting anyone in, including journalists. Protesters trying to escape have been tear gassed and arrested, and some have retreated back inside.
A volunteer inside the campus says there are about 300 or 400 people left in the university. Asked what they plan to do, she says: “They are 20 year old kids. They don’t have plans. Everyone is nervous.”A volunteer inside the campus says there are about 300 or 400 people left in the university. Asked what they plan to do, she says: “They are 20 year old kids. They don’t have plans. Everyone is nervous.”
Parents have also collected by a police cordon nearby.Parents have also collected by a police cordon nearby.
Our correspondent in Hong Kong, Lily Kuo, has posted these views of the besieged Hong Kong Polytechnic University, that show thick smoke billowing from the campus and multiple explosions — with hundreds of students still inside.Our correspondent in Hong Kong, Lily Kuo, has posted these views of the besieged Hong Kong Polytechnic University, that show thick smoke billowing from the campus and multiple explosions — with hundreds of students still inside.
The Associated Press has published its latest update, which describes how police are preventing protesters from leaving the campus:The Associated Press has published its latest update, which describes how police are preventing protesters from leaving the campus:
Hello, this is Sarah Marsh, taking over our live coverage of Hong Kong, where police and protesters have been clashing on the outskirts of the Polytechnic University. The latest images from chaotic scenes in and around the campus, which has become the site of the most prolonged and tense confrontation between police and demonstrators in more than five months of political unrest.Hello, this is Sarah Marsh, taking over our live coverage of Hong Kong, where police and protesters have been clashing on the outskirts of the Polytechnic University. The latest images from chaotic scenes in and around the campus, which has become the site of the most prolonged and tense confrontation between police and demonstrators in more than five months of political unrest.
Thanks for following our rolling coverage of the latest developments in Hong Kong. We are going to pause the liveblog now, but will continue in-depth coverage.Thanks for following our rolling coverage of the latest developments in Hong Kong. We are going to pause the liveblog now, but will continue in-depth coverage.
Here is our full news story on what happened today.Here is our full news story on what happened today.
To recap:To recap:
Protesters and police remain locked in a standoff at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.Protesters and police remain locked in a standoff at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Hong Kong’s High Court has ruled that a ban on masks and face-coverings is unconstitutional.Hong Kong’s High Court has ruled that a ban on masks and face-coverings is unconstitutional.
Hundreds of people in other parts of the city have been arrested as they express support for those within the university.Hundreds of people in other parts of the city have been arrested as they express support for those within the university.
Confusion reigns over whether protesters can leave the university. At 7am, they were told by the Poly U president that they could leave the campus under a police ceasefire – but they were driven back inside by round after round of teargas.Confusion reigns over whether protesters can leave the university. At 7am, they were told by the Poly U president that they could leave the campus under a police ceasefire – but they were driven back inside by round after round of teargas.
At 12pm, police told protesters to lay down their weapons and leave peacefully, but a source told media that they could still be arrested.At 12pm, police told protesters to lay down their weapons and leave peacefully, but a source told media that they could still be arrested.
Police claimed they shot teargas at the earlier attempt to leave because protesters threw petrol bombs and charged at officers.Police claimed they shot teargas at the earlier attempt to leave because protesters threw petrol bombs and charged at officers.
A senior United States official has condemned the “unjustified use of force” and says they are monitoring events in Hong Kong.A senior United States official has condemned the “unjustified use of force” and says they are monitoring events in Hong Kong.
The ban on face coverings was enabled by the declaration of emergency powers, under a colonial British-era rule that had not been used since 1967.The ban on face coverings was enabled by the declaration of emergency powers, under a colonial British-era rule that had not been used since 1967.
The emergency regulations ordinance was created by the British in 1922, and grants the government power to “make any regulations” in the public interest during “an occasion of emergency or public danger”.The emergency regulations ordinance was created by the British in 1922, and grants the government power to “make any regulations” in the public interest during “an occasion of emergency or public danger”.
Chief executive Carrie Lam had declared the ordinance in October, and used it to pass the anti-mask rule.Chief executive Carrie Lam had declared the ordinance in October, and used it to pass the anti-mask rule.
But that declaration of emergency powers was itself not overruled by today’s High Court judgment.But that declaration of emergency powers was itself not overruled by today’s High Court judgment.
Some text of the judgment below.
The court found that the mask ban went “further than is reasonably necessary”, and was a “restriction on fundamental rights”.
The ban on face coverings failed a test of proportionality. Though it was “rationally connected to legitimate societal aims”, it went too far.
Breaking news. The High Court has ruled the ban on face masks and coverings, established in October, unconstitutional.
More details to come soon.
Two big updates on the standoff at Poly U, from the South China Morning Post.
Quoting a police source, the newspaper reports that protesters will still be arrested if they leave Poly U peacefully.
Earlier, the police had told protesters to “drop their weapons”, take off gas masks and leave through one particular exit.
“We may record that they leave peacefully for future court reference,” the police source said, but confirmed they could still be arrested.
At the same time, SCMP correspondent Jeffie Lam reports that the council chairman of Poly U had asked Hong Kong police to meet to discuss “how to resolve the crisis in a peaceful manner”.
But police are yet to reply.
The acting president of the student union, Ken Woo, also claims more than 600 people remain inside the university, higher than previous estimates of 200.
Earlier today, chief executive Carrie Lam visited an injured police officer in hospital.
The officer had been shot in the leg with an arrow on Sunday during the early stages of the Poly U standoff.
An escalating situation along Gascoigne Road, in Jordan, on the outskirts of Poly U.
Police are currently advancing along the road and firing tear gas, while protesters respond with “at least one petrol bomb”, according to the South China Morning Post.
Protesters and police are 100 metres apart, SCMP report.
Here is Deutsche Welle reporter Phoebe Kong on the same theme.
The Foreign Correspondents Club has condemned the police obstruction of media coverage of the Poly U standoff.
The FCC says journalists were blocked from entry and exit, searched and threatened with arrest under riot charges.
They are also calling on police to investigate reports of an incident in Mong Kok where an officer allegedly targeted a journalist.
“The FCC calls on the police to conduct a thorough investigation of a police officer who allegedly targeted a journalist in Mong Kok this weekend with a sponge grenade. Police said the officer was put on leave and that they are investigating the incident.
“The FCC considers this a serious breach of press freedom and the right of the media under Hong Kong law to cover the protests free of intimidation or violence...We again call for an independent investigation into police violence against journalists and any interference with the media’s right under Hong Kong law to cover the unrest.”
The full statement is here.
On the outskirts of the university, a protester has also been shot in the forehead with a projectile and is bleeding, according to Hong Kong Free Press and the South China Morning Post.
The man is on Gascogne Road outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei.
At the same time, police have also fired tear gas into a crowd across the West Kowloon Corridor, the SCMP reports.
Hong Kong police have released a statement, calling on protesters to leave the campus via a specific route: the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge.
Earlier, protesters had attempted to leave, but had been driven back in by multiple rounds of tear gas.
The statement has no indication of whether protesters will be arrested or not.
“The police appeal to everyone inside the Polytechnic University to drop their weapons and dangerous items, remove their gas masks and leave via the top level of Cheong Wan Road South Bridge in an orderly manner,” it says.
“They should follow police instructions and must not charge at police cordons.”
The statement says tear gas was fired during the last attempt to leave because the protesters had thrown petrol bombs and “charged” at cordons.
“After repeated warnings were ignored, police officers dispersed the rioters with tear gas, the minimum force necessary,” they said. “The rioters are hereby warned to stop their unlawful acts.”
Over the past two hours, attention has turned to the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui – outside Poly U – where over a hundred people have been arrested and detained in public.
As those inside the campus continue their standoff with police, dozens of people outside, who have variously been trying to reach the university, provide support or ask police to lift the siege, have been arrested.
A senior US official has also condemned the “unjustified use of force” in Hong Kong in recent days, and said they are monitoring the situation.
Earlier, the university president, Professor Teng Jin-guang, said he had negotiated a temporary suspension of the use of force with the police and urged protesters to “leave the campus in a peaceful manner”.
But as protesters tried to leave the university, at 8.30am, they were stopped by “round after round” of tear gas, lasting a few minutes, forcing them back inside.
Protesters are now currently still inside the university campus, fearing that they will be trapped and arrested en masse by police.