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Hong Kong Protesters Defy Officials’ Call to Disperse Hong Kong Protesters Defy Officials’ Call to Disperse
(about 2 hours later)
HONG KONG — A wave of public protest in Hong Kong extended into the working week on Monday as thousands of residents defied a government call to abandon street blockades across the city, students boycotted classes and the city’s influential bar association added to condemnation of a police crackdown on protesters a day earlier.HONG KONG — A wave of public protest in Hong Kong extended into the working week on Monday as thousands of residents defied a government call to abandon street blockades across the city, students boycotted classes and the city’s influential bar association added to condemnation of a police crackdown on protesters a day earlier.
The continued public resistance underscored the difficulties that the Hong Kong government faces in defusing widespread anger that erupted on Sunday, after the police used tear gas, pepper spray and batons to break up a three-day sit-in by students and other residents demanding democratic elections in the semiautonomous Chinese territory.The continued public resistance underscored the difficulties that the Hong Kong government faces in defusing widespread anger that erupted on Sunday, after the police used tear gas, pepper spray and batons to break up a three-day sit-in by students and other residents demanding democratic elections in the semiautonomous Chinese territory.
The Hong Kong government said Monday morning that it had pulled back the riot police from roads across the city where thousands of determined protesters were blocking traffic. The government urged the demonstrators to end their street sit-ins so that life in this busy commercial city could return to normal. On Monday afternoon, the Hong Kong government canceled the city’s annual fireworks show to mark China’s National Day, which falls on Wednesday — an implicit acknowledgement that officials expect the protests to continue for days. The government cited transportation and safety concerns in canceling the fireworks, which usually attract tens of thousands of onlookers to Victoria Harbor.
“In view of the latest situation, it is anticipated that main access roads leading to hot spots for viewing the fireworks display may continue to be seriously affected,” a government statement said.
Earlier in the day, the government said that it had pulled back the riot police from roads across the city where thousands of determined protesters were blocking traffic. The government urged the demonstrators to end their street sit-ins so that life in this busy commercial city could return to normal.
But in the Admiralty area, home to the government’s offices and a focus of the demonstrators’ anger, many of the protesters who were occupying a main road said they were determined to stay until the city’s top leader, Leung Chun-ying, resigned and answered their demands for democratic elections to choose his successor.But in the Admiralty area, home to the government’s offices and a focus of the demonstrators’ anger, many of the protesters who were occupying a main road said they were determined to stay until the city’s top leader, Leung Chun-ying, resigned and answered their demands for democratic elections to choose his successor.
“I came out after I watched the television last night of the police attacking the students,” said Agnes Yip, a sales worker in her 20s who had slept overnight on an expressway in Admiralty.“I came out after I watched the television last night of the police attacking the students,” said Agnes Yip, a sales worker in her 20s who had slept overnight on an expressway in Admiralty.
“We won’t leave until we have a dialogue between the government and the people,” she said. “We’ll stay all day at least, and then tomorrow.”“We won’t leave until we have a dialogue between the government and the people,” she said. “We’ll stay all day at least, and then tomorrow.”
Protesters were also blocking major roads Monday afternoon in two busy commercial districts, Causeway Bay and Mongkok, where they had seized control overnight.Protesters were also blocking major roads Monday afternoon in two busy commercial districts, Causeway Bay and Mongkok, where they had seized control overnight.
Many of the protesters in Admiralty on Monday were wearing surgical masks and goggles in anticipation that the police would try to disperse them with tear gas or pepper spray. The statement by the government appeared to allay such fears, at least for the time being. Many of the protesters in Admiralty on Monday were wearing surgical masks and goggles in anticipation that the police would try to disperse them with tear gas or pepper spray. The announcement about the riot police appeared to allay such fears, at least for the time being.
“Because the residents who have assembled on the roadways have largely returned to calm, the riot police have already withdrawn,” said an unidentified spokesman for the government. The spokesman “urged the assembled residents to maintain calm and to peacefully disperse.” “Because the residents who have assembled on the roadways have largely returned to calm, the riot police have already withdrawn,” an unidentified spokesman for the government said in the statement. The spokesman “urged the assembled residents to maintain calm and to peacefully disperse.”
​But after the statement was released, some police officers with riot shields and other crowd-control equipment remained near the protesters in Admiralty. About two dozen officers guarded a pedestrian overpass that provides access to the nearby government buildings, and other officers were resting nearby.​But after the statement was released, some police officers with riot shields and other crowd-control equipment remained near the protesters in Admiralty. About two dozen officers guarded a pedestrian overpass that provides access to the nearby government buildings, and other officers were resting nearby.
The use of tear gas Sunday against demonstrators, the first time in years that it had been deployed in the city, had appeared to galvanize the public and swell the protesting crowds. The Hong Kong Bar Association on Monday condemned what it said had been “repeated, systematic, indiscriminate and excessive” use of tear gas against demonstrators in Admiralty.The use of tear gas Sunday against demonstrators, the first time in years that it had been deployed in the city, had appeared to galvanize the public and swell the protesting crowds. The Hong Kong Bar Association on Monday condemned what it said had been “repeated, systematic, indiscriminate and excessive” use of tear gas against demonstrators in Admiralty.
“Even though on occasions, a minority of demonstrators became confrontational with the police, the overwhelming majority of the demonstrators were visibly conducting themselves peacefully,” the bar association said in a statement.“Even though on occasions, a minority of demonstrators became confrontational with the police, the overwhelming majority of the demonstrators were visibly conducting themselves peacefully,” the bar association said in a statement.
The police said Monday that a total of 41 people had been injured in clashes over the previous three days, including 12 police officers.
The protesters are calling for fully democratic elections for the city’s leader, the chief executive, in 2017. Hong Kong, a former British colony that was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, had been promised universal suffrage by that date. But under China’s plan for conducting those elections, only candidates vetted by a Beijing-friendly committee would be allowed to run.The protesters are calling for fully democratic elections for the city’s leader, the chief executive, in 2017. Hong Kong, a former British colony that was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, had been promised universal suffrage by that date. But under China’s plan for conducting those elections, only candidates vetted by a Beijing-friendly committee would be allowed to run.
Alison Fung, a magazine editor who said she had been at the Admiralty sit-in since Sunday night, said that she and other demonstrators were angered by what she called the “wordplay” used to present China’s election proposal as a democratic advance.Alison Fung, a magazine editor who said she had been at the Admiralty sit-in since Sunday night, said that she and other demonstrators were angered by what she called the “wordplay” used to present China’s election proposal as a democratic advance.
“Probably about 10 years ago, Hong Kong was not so concerned about politics,” Ms. Fung said Monday. “But we want a more fair election so we can decide our own future. People feel that our opinions aren’t listened to.”“Probably about 10 years ago, Hong Kong was not so concerned about politics,” Ms. Fung said Monday. “But we want a more fair election so we can decide our own future. People feel that our opinions aren’t listened to.”
The Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of the organizations leading the protests, called Sunday night for an indefinite student strike. On Monday, images of students holding gatherings at their schools in lieu of classes, many of them wearing black in support of the protests, could be seen on social media and in local news reports.The Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of the organizations leading the protests, called Sunday night for an indefinite student strike. On Monday, images of students holding gatherings at their schools in lieu of classes, many of them wearing black in support of the protests, could be seen on social media and in local news reports.
In another indication that the protests could broaden, the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union called Sunday for a general strike by teachers in the city. The organization, which has around 90,000 members, called the police “enemies of the people” and said they had used “ruthless force” against unarmed civilians.In another indication that the protests could broaden, the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union called Sunday for a general strike by teachers in the city. The organization, which has around 90,000 members, called the police “enemies of the people” and said they had used “ruthless force” against unarmed civilians.
In a response Monday that drew some derision online, Hong Kong’s Education Bureau said it “respected all teachers,” pointing to a program it runs that rewards teachers for excellence. The bureau called on teachers to “uphold professionalism” and “make every effort to take care of students so that their normal schooling can be free from any interference.”In a response Monday that drew some derision online, Hong Kong’s Education Bureau said it “respected all teachers,” pointing to a program it runs that rewards teachers for excellence. The bureau called on teachers to “uphold professionalism” and “make every effort to take care of students so that their normal schooling can be free from any interference.”
“All external political influence and pressure must be kept away from the school campus,” the statement added, a nod to accusations from pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong that students are being manipulated by people with a political agenda. Organizers of the protests have denied such accusations, saying that the student protesters are acting independently. “All external political influence and pressure must be kept away from the school campus,” the statement added, a nod to accusations from pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong that students were being manipulated by people with a political agenda. Organizers of the protests have denied such accusations, saying that the student protesters are acting independently.
The United States Consulate in Hong Kong on Monday urged all sides to “refrain from actions that would further escalate tensions,” adding, “We do not take sides in the discussion of Hong Kong’s political development.” The statement appeared intended to answer Chinese officials who in the past have accused Washington of fomenting unrest in Hong Kong and who were expected to attribute the protests to interference by the West.The United States Consulate in Hong Kong on Monday urged all sides to “refrain from actions that would further escalate tensions,” adding, “We do not take sides in the discussion of Hong Kong’s political development.” The statement appeared intended to answer Chinese officials who in the past have accused Washington of fomenting unrest in Hong Kong and who were expected to attribute the protests to interference by the West.
The Hong Kong Exchange’s benchmark Hang Seng index fell as much as 2.31 percent and was still down 2 percent at midday Monday. Markets elsewhere in Asia were largely unmoved, with the Nikkei in Japan, Kospi in Korea and Shanghai indexes all up less than 0.5 percent. Despite the protests, Hong Kong’s financial markets opened as usual. The benchmark Hang Seng index closed 1.9 percent lower, the worst-performing major market in Asia. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said that 44 bank branches, offices or ATMs had been temporarily closed Monday because of the protests.
Analysts said the short-term effects of the protests on business in Hong Kong were likely to be muted. In the longer term, they said, the local political climate could delay key budget approvals for the many large-scale infrastructure projects planned around the territory and could affect Hong Kong’s positioning as a financial center for China.