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| Hong Kong Protests: Over 1,000 Detained at a University, and a Warning From Beijing | Hong Kong Protests: Over 1,000 Detained at a University, and a Warning From Beijing |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| HONG KONG — About 50 protesters remained holed up inside a Hong Kong university on Tuesday evening after a three-day standoff between students and the police turned a prestigious institution into a battlefield and ended with hundreds of young people behind bars. | |
| More than 1,000 protesters who had spent the previous day clashing with the police were detained after heavily armed officers surrounded the school on Sunday and gave the protesters few options but to surrender and face arrest. | More than 1,000 protesters who had spent the previous day clashing with the police were detained after heavily armed officers surrounded the school on Sunday and gave the protesters few options but to surrender and face arrest. |
| A number of students had escaped by rappelling from a nearby bridge to be whisked away by waiting motorbike drivers, while others failed in an attempt to flee through a sewage pipe. | A number of students had escaped by rappelling from a nearby bridge to be whisked away by waiting motorbike drivers, while others failed in an attempt to flee through a sewage pipe. |
| As much of the territory remained gripped by the drama at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the central government in Beijing on Tuesday condemned a decision by a Hong Kong court that overturned a ban on face masks worn by protesters. | As much of the territory remained gripped by the drama at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the central government in Beijing on Tuesday condemned a decision by a Hong Kong court that overturned a ban on face masks worn by protesters. |
| The Hong Kong protests began in June over legislation, since scrapped, that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, and have expanded to include a broad range of demands for police accountability and greater democracy. | The Hong Kong protests began in June over legislation, since scrapped, that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, and have expanded to include a broad range of demands for police accountability and greater democracy. |
| Here’s the latest: | Here’s the latest: |
| Pinned in from all sides by the police, most of the campus occupiers had surrendered or fled the PolyU campus by Tuesday morning. | Pinned in from all sides by the police, most of the campus occupiers had surrendered or fled the PolyU campus by Tuesday morning. |
| By then, on the third day of a standoff, only 100 protesters remained inside. Several hours later, the remaining holdouts numbered around 50. | |
| The protesters — many of them high school and university students, and some armed with bows and arrows and homemade weapons — held the police at bay for three days in what became the most violent confrontation in six months of protests. | The protesters — many of them high school and university students, and some armed with bows and arrows and homemade weapons — held the police at bay for three days in what became the most violent confrontation in six months of protests. |
| The battle at PolyU, in which the police fired more than 1,000 cans of tear gas and rubber bullets, represented the force’s most direct intervention onto one of the city’s university campuses. | The battle at PolyU, in which the police fired more than 1,000 cans of tear gas and rubber bullets, represented the force’s most direct intervention onto one of the city’s university campuses. |
| Ted Hui, a pro-democracy lawmaker who stayed on campus during the clashes, escorted several dozen students out of the university on Tuesday evening. “This is not a surrender, and we are not turning ourselves in,” he said. “We are simply leaving.” | Ted Hui, a pro-democracy lawmaker who stayed on campus during the clashes, escorted several dozen students out of the university on Tuesday evening. “This is not a surrender, and we are not turning ourselves in,” he said. “We are simply leaving.” |
| The departing protesters were searched by the police, and those older than 18 were put into a police van to be booked. | The departing protesters were searched by the police, and those older than 18 were put into a police van to be booked. |
| Mr. Hui, a member of city’s Legislative Council, was not arrested, a distinction that he said “shows there is political selection in who they arrest and that there are arbitrary arrests.” | Mr. Hui, a member of city’s Legislative Council, was not arrested, a distinction that he said “shows there is political selection in who they arrest and that there are arbitrary arrests.” |
| The remaining occupiers said that they would not resist the police, but that they would not leave until officers entered the campus to arrest them. | The remaining occupiers said that they would not resist the police, but that they would not leave until officers entered the campus to arrest them. |
| At least 200 of the protesters who left the campus were minors, Carrie Lam, the city’s chief executive, said in a news conference on Tuesday. | At least 200 of the protesters who left the campus were minors, Carrie Lam, the city’s chief executive, said in a news conference on Tuesday. |
| Those under 18 were questioned by the police but were not arrested on the spot. They may still face arrest pending further investigation, Mrs. Lam said. | Those under 18 were questioned by the police but were not arrested on the spot. They may still face arrest pending further investigation, Mrs. Lam said. |
| She said the “special arrangements” for minors were intended to achieve “a peaceful and reconciliatory resolution.” | She said the “special arrangements” for minors were intended to achieve “a peaceful and reconciliatory resolution.” |
| Video from inside the university showed an eerily deserted campus covered in trash and debris, a ransacked convenience store, boxes of unused petrol bombs, and the words “Liberty or death” emblazoned on a building. | Video from inside the university showed an eerily deserted campus covered in trash and debris, a ransacked convenience store, boxes of unused petrol bombs, and the words “Liberty or death” emblazoned on a building. |
| The Hong Kong Hospital Authority treated about 80 injured people from the university at emergency rooms on Tuesday morning. Another 200 from the campus were later sent to local hospitals. | The Hong Kong Hospital Authority treated about 80 injured people from the university at emergency rooms on Tuesday morning. Another 200 from the campus were later sent to local hospitals. |
| Separately, Albert Ho, a former pro-democracy lawmaker, said he had been assaulted on his route home from work. The motivation of that attack was unclear. | Separately, Albert Ho, a former pro-democracy lawmaker, said he had been assaulted on his route home from work. The motivation of that attack was unclear. |
| About 1,100 people were detained near the PolyU campus on Monday and Tuesday, said Kwok Ka-chuen, a police spokesman. That figure would represent the largest roundup of protesters on a single day, making up almost a fifth of the total arrests since the protests began in June. | About 1,100 people were detained near the PolyU campus on Monday and Tuesday, said Kwok Ka-chuen, a police spokesman. That figure would represent the largest roundup of protesters on a single day, making up almost a fifth of the total arrests since the protests began in June. |
| Those arrested on Monday and Tuesday were charged with offenses that included rioting and possession of offensive weapons. Rioting carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and many of the PolyU protesters were reluctant to surrender in order to avoid the charge. | Those arrested on Monday and Tuesday were charged with offenses that included rioting and possession of offensive weapons. Rioting carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and many of the PolyU protesters were reluctant to surrender in order to avoid the charge. |
| Mr. Kwok said that 1,458 rounds of tear gas and 1,391 rubber bullets were fired on Monday, putting a figure to the dizzying display of smoke and gunfire witnessed on the second day of the siege. | Mr. Kwok said that 1,458 rounds of tear gas and 1,391 rubber bullets were fired on Monday, putting a figure to the dizzying display of smoke and gunfire witnessed on the second day of the siege. |
| At the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which was the site of clashes with the police last week, more than 3,900 Molotov cocktails were seized on Monday, representing the most found in a single location, he said. | At the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which was the site of clashes with the police last week, more than 3,900 Molotov cocktails were seized on Monday, representing the most found in a single location, he said. |
| He called the prestigious university a “manufacturing base” for fire bombs. | He called the prestigious university a “manufacturing base” for fire bombs. |
| A number of protesters who had left PolyU on Tuesday, including several wrapped in emergency Mylar blankets, waited to be taken to a hospital. Some appeared to be suffering from effects of hypothermia after being struck by a police water cannon. | A number of protesters who had left PolyU on Tuesday, including several wrapped in emergency Mylar blankets, waited to be taken to a hospital. Some appeared to be suffering from effects of hypothermia after being struck by a police water cannon. |
| In Beijing, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress took the unusual step of criticizing a Hong Kong court’s ruling that struck down a contentious ban on the wearing of face masks in public, effectively saying that the central government alone has the authority to rule on constitutional issues in the territory. | In Beijing, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress took the unusual step of criticizing a Hong Kong court’s ruling that struck down a contentious ban on the wearing of face masks in public, effectively saying that the central government alone has the authority to rule on constitutional issues in the territory. |
| The Hong Kong High Court found that the ban, enacted in October, violated the territory’s mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law. In a statement released on Tuesday, a spokesman for the standing committee warned that the ruling “seriously weakened the lawful governing power” of the Hong Kong government. | The Hong Kong High Court found that the ban, enacted in October, violated the territory’s mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law. In a statement released on Tuesday, a spokesman for the standing committee warned that the ruling “seriously weakened the lawful governing power” of the Hong Kong government. |
| The National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislative body, has the authority to interpret legal matters involving national issues — and to change the Basic Law itself. The timing of the ruling raised new fears of Beijing’s efforts to erode the territory’s autonomy. | The National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislative body, has the authority to interpret legal matters involving national issues — and to change the Basic Law itself. The timing of the ruling raised new fears of Beijing’s efforts to erode the territory’s autonomy. |
| “When the state loses, she changes the rules of game,” Joshua Wong, a prominent opposition leader, wrote on Twitter. “Beijing never intends to play by the rules.” | “When the state loses, she changes the rules of game,” Joshua Wong, a prominent opposition leader, wrote on Twitter. “Beijing never intends to play by the rules.” |
| Article 158 of the Basic Law gives the congress the final authority over interpreting whether the Basic Law conflicts with national law. It also calls on Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal to seek the legislature’s interpretation in considering cases whose legal significance extends to national issues. | Article 158 of the Basic Law gives the congress the final authority over interpreting whether the Basic Law conflicts with national law. It also calls on Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal to seek the legislature’s interpretation in considering cases whose legal significance extends to national issues. |
| The statement suggested that Beijing was prepared to act decisively to restore the mask ban, but the implications could be much greater, showing that there are limits of the national government’s tolerance for an independent judicial system that has been a pillar of Hong Kong’s singular political and economic status. | The statement suggested that Beijing was prepared to act decisively to restore the mask ban, but the implications could be much greater, showing that there are limits of the national government’s tolerance for an independent judicial system that has been a pillar of Hong Kong’s singular political and economic status. |
| In another statement on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Chinese government’s office that handles Hong Kong affairs also criticized the court’s decision to overturn the ban, saying that it had “a gravely negative social impact” and “brazenly challenged the authority of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and the governance powers of the chief executive conferred by the law.” | In another statement on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Chinese government’s office that handles Hong Kong affairs also criticized the court’s decision to overturn the ban, saying that it had “a gravely negative social impact” and “brazenly challenged the authority of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and the governance powers of the chief executive conferred by the law.” |
| Hong Kong’s embattled police force, once regarded as “Asia’s finest,” has a new boss. | Hong Kong’s embattled police force, once regarded as “Asia’s finest,” has a new boss. |
| Tang Ping-keung, formerly the territory’s No. 2 police official, was named commissioner of police on Tuesday after approval from the central government in Beijing. | Tang Ping-keung, formerly the territory’s No. 2 police official, was named commissioner of police on Tuesday after approval from the central government in Beijing. |
| In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Mr. Tang blamed the public for tolerating the protests and encouraging their violent acts. “If everyone had come out earlier to condemn the violence, society would not have turned into this state in five months,” he said. | In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Mr. Tang blamed the public for tolerating the protests and encouraging their violent acts. “If everyone had come out earlier to condemn the violence, society would not have turned into this state in five months,” he said. |
| “We can only end the unrest with society’s condemnation, reflection by the rioters, plus our appropriate tactics,” he added. | “We can only end the unrest with society’s condemnation, reflection by the rioters, plus our appropriate tactics,” he added. |
| Mr. Tang also rejected a key demand of the protesters: setting up an independent commission to investigate police conduct during the protests. | Mr. Tang also rejected a key demand of the protesters: setting up an independent commission to investigate police conduct during the protests. |
| “Our staff might think they are being particularly targeted if the well-established mechanism is bypassed,” he told the Post. “We will be disappointed.” | “Our staff might think they are being particularly targeted if the well-established mechanism is bypassed,” he told the Post. “We will be disappointed.” |
| Katherine Li and Tiffany May contributed reporting. | Katherine Li and Tiffany May contributed reporting. |