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Under the umbrellas: what do Hong Kong's protesters want from China? Under the umbrellas: what do Hong Kong's protesters want from China?
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of protesters remained defiantly in downtown Hong Kong on Monday night after days of confrontations with police that observers fear could spark wider violence. The Guardian’s Tania Branigan in Hong Kong and Jonathan Kaiman in Beijing have been reporting on the standoff since large protests began Friday. Here’s a quick summary of what’s happening:Thousands of protesters remained defiantly in downtown Hong Kong on Monday night after days of confrontations with police that observers fear could spark wider violence. The Guardian’s Tania Branigan in Hong Kong and Jonathan Kaiman in Beijing have been reporting on the standoff since large protests began Friday. Here’s a quick summary of what’s happening:
What’s the latest?What’s the latest?
Police equipped with riot gear visibly withdrew from protests on Monday after the use of teargas and pepper spray on demonstrators on Sunday (video) drew widespread condemnation, as well as thousands of additional demonstrators into the streets. Late on Monday, an elevated road in downtown Hong Kong west of Admiralty remained packed with protesters (Hong Kong is eight hours ahead of GMT, 12 hours ahead of US eastern time,) and reporters at the scene around midnight said more were arriving. Police equipped with riot gear visibly withdrew from protests on Monday after the use of teargas and pepper-spray on demonstrators on Sunday (video) drew widespread condemnation, as well as thousands of additional demonstrators into the streets. Late on Monday, an elevated road in downtown Hong Kong west of Admiralty remained packed with protesters (Hong Kong is eight hours ahead of GMT, 12 hours ahead of US eastern time,) and reporters at the scene around midnight said more were arriving.
What do the protesters want?What do the protesters want?
Electoral freedom is the main demand. This is a perennial concern in Hong Kong, and it has again come to a head after China announced that Beijing would vet candidates to run in the 2017 elections, thus regulating the race to be Hong Kong chief executive. Protesters see the new rules as a sign that China may be seeking to erode the “one country, two systems” rubric in place in Hong Kong since 1997, when it reverted from British to Chinese control.Electoral freedom is the main demand. This is a perennial concern in Hong Kong, and it has again come to a head after China announced that Beijing would vet candidates to run in the 2017 elections, thus regulating the race to be Hong Kong chief executive. Protesters see the new rules as a sign that China may be seeking to erode the “one country, two systems” rubric in place in Hong Kong since 1997, when it reverted from British to Chinese control.
See a slide show of scenes from the protests.See a slide show of scenes from the protests.
How long have the protests been going?How long have the protests been going?
The protests began with a students’ strike last week in protest of election restrictions. The demonstration grew dramatically in response to an attempted police crackdown on Friday, after around 150 protesters broke through police lines and stormed the city headquarters late on Friday night. The protests swelled again on Sunday, when police used teargas and pepper spray to try to disperse the crowds.The protests began with a students’ strike last week in protest of election restrictions. The demonstration grew dramatically in response to an attempted police crackdown on Friday, after around 150 protesters broke through police lines and stormed the city headquarters late on Friday night. The protests swelled again on Sunday, when police used teargas and pepper spray to try to disperse the crowds.
Who are the protesters?Who are the protesters?
By early Sunday, leaders of the broader Occupy Central with Love and Peace announced they were joining the students and launching a mass sit-in that had long planned. Occupy Central leaders include Benny Tai, an associate professor of law at the University of Hong Kong. Other organizers include the Hong Kong Federation of Students. Both groups have called for nonviolent protests on behalf of open democracy. By early Sunday, leaders of the broader Occupy Central with Love and Peace announced they were joining the students and launching a mass sit-in that had long been planned. Occupy Central leaders include Benny Tai, an associate professor of law at the University of Hong Kong. Other organizers include the Hong Kong Federation of Students. Both groups have called for non-violent protests on behalf of open democracy.
Where are the demonstrations taking place?Where are the demonstrations taking place?
Various locations in downtown Hong Kong, or Central. The most persistent protest has been in Admiralty on Tim Mei Avenue near the central government offices (map). Views of the scene Monday night show protesters filling Connaught Road Central. Smaller protests have sprung up in the shopping district of Causeway Bay and in Mong Kok, Kowloon. Reporters have estimated peak crowds of tens of thousands although some protesters put the number higher. Various locations in downtown Hong Kong, or Central. The most persistent protest has been in Admiralty on Tim Mei Avenue near the central government offices (map). Views of the scene Monday night show protesters filling Connaught Road Central. Smaller protests have sprung up in the shopping district of Causeway Bay and in Mong Kok, Kowloon. Reporters have estimated peak crowds of tens of thousands, although some protesters put the number higher.
What effects are they having?What effects are they having?
Significant disruptions of daily life in the city and reverberations of concern that extend much farther. Officials said 41 people, including police, had been injured since protests began, and 78 arrested for offences including forcible entry into government premises, unlawful assembly and obstructing police. The Hong Kong dollar fell to a six-month low when trading opened Monday, and shares slipped to a three-month low. Schools were closed in the Central, Wanchai and Western districts. Several banks closed branches, many businesses were shut and about 200 bus lines suspended, the South China Morning Post reported. Significant disruptions of daily life in the city and reverberations of concern that extend much further. Officials said 41 people, including police, had been injured since protests began, and 78 arrested for offences including forcible entry into government premises, unlawful assembly and obstructing police. The Hong Kong dollar fell to a six-month low when trading opened Monday, and shares slipped to a three-month low. Schools were closed in the Central, Wanchai and Western districts. Several banks closed branches, many businesses were shut and about 200 bus lines suspended, the South China Morning Post reported.
Why all the umbrellas?Why all the umbrellas?
Some protesters have brought umbrellas to defend against the use of pepper spray. They’re also good against the hot sun (midday temps reach 90/32) and have taken on a symbolic force. Other demonstrators have improvised masks using goggles and plastic wrap to defend against tear gas. Some protesters have brought umbrellas to defend against the use of pepper spray. They’re also good against the hot sun (midday temps reach 90F, or 32C) and have taken on a symbolic force. Other demonstrators have improvised masks using goggles and plastic wrap to defend against teargas.
How can this end?How can this end?
The stakes are high because both sides see a larger threat behind the standoff in the streets. “This is a watershed,” Hung Ho-fung of Johns Hopkins University told Tania Branigan, noting that in the past, mass protests in Hong Kong had occurred with police approval. “This time people are using civil disobedience and setting up barricades. There’s also the disruptive aspect; in the past, they emphasised that demonstrations would not affect everyday life. This time they really don’t care. I really haven’t seen anything like this in Hong Kong history.” The stakes are high, because both sides see a larger threat behind the standoff in the streets. “This is a watershed,” Hung Ho-fung of Johns Hopkins University told Tania Branigan, noting that in the past, mass protests in Hong Kong had occurred with police approval.
But the stakes are high for China, too, in part because it is clear to all sides that the decision to limit nominees for the 2017 elections came directly from Beijing and not from the local Hong Kong government. “Beijing has put itself in a corner and I don’t think it can back down,” Hung Ho-fung told the Guardian. “I think it’s out of Beijing’s expectations that Hong Kong people would be so persistent and so provoked by the decision.” News of the protests has been censored from mainland media broadcasts. “This time people are using civil disobedience and setting up barricades. There’s also the disruptive aspect; in the past, they emphasised that demonstrations would not affect everyday life. This time they really don’t care. I really haven’t seen anything like this in Hong Kong history.”
But the stakes are high for China, too, in part because it is clear to all sides that the decision to limit nominees for the 2017 elections came directly from Beijing and not from the local Hong Kong government. “Beijing has put itself in a corner and I don’t think it can back down,” Hung told the Guardian. “I think it’s out of Beijing’s expectations that Hong Kong people would be so persistent and so provoked by the decision.” News of the protests has been censored from mainland media broadcasts.
The current protests have led some commentators to raise the specter of the Tiananmen Square massacre 25 years ago in Beijing, in which hundreds, perhaps thousands, are believed to have died at the hands of government troops.The current protests have led some commentators to raise the specter of the Tiananmen Square massacre 25 years ago in Beijing, in which hundreds, perhaps thousands, are believed to have died at the hands of government troops.
Benny Tai, one of Occupy Central’s leaders, said the movement would continue until the current Hong Kong chief executive, CY Leung, resigned and Beijing changed its position on political reform. “It is totally unexpected … it’s all about our pursuit of democracy,” Tai told the South China Morning Post. “Beijing now sees it, the world sees it – CY Leung, do you see it?”Benny Tai, one of Occupy Central’s leaders, said the movement would continue until the current Hong Kong chief executive, CY Leung, resigned and Beijing changed its position on political reform. “It is totally unexpected … it’s all about our pursuit of democracy,” Tai told the South China Morning Post. “Beijing now sees it, the world sees it – CY Leung, do you see it?”