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| Violent clashes break out in Hong Kong after counter-protesters storm sit-in | Violent clashes break out in Hong Kong after counter-protesters storm sit-in |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Violent scuffles have broken out in one of Hong Kong’s most famous and congested shopping districts, as supporters of Chinese rule stormed tents and ripped down banners belonging to pro-democracy protesters. | Violent scuffles have broken out in one of Hong Kong’s most famous and congested shopping districts, as supporters of Chinese rule stormed tents and ripped down banners belonging to pro-democracy protesters. |
| In the gritty, bustling district of Mongkok – considered one of the most crowded places on Earth with its high-rise apartment blocks packed closely together over neon lights, bars, restaurants and open-air markets – about 1,000 Beijing supporters clashed with about 100 protesters on Friday, spitting and throwing water bottles. | In the gritty, bustling district of Mongkok – considered one of the most crowded places on Earth with its high-rise apartment blocks packed closely together over neon lights, bars, restaurants and open-air markets – about 1,000 Beijing supporters clashed with about 100 protesters on Friday, spitting and throwing water bottles. |
| Hong Kong’s mass pro-democracy protests had ebbed on Friday morning after the chief executive offered talks to student representatives minutes before their midnight deadline for his resignation. | Hong Kong’s mass pro-democracy protests had ebbed on Friday morning after the chief executive offered talks to student representatives minutes before their midnight deadline for his resignation. |
| But hundreds remained in Mongkok and around government offices in the city’s downtown, angered by Leung Chun-ying’s refusal to quit and deeply sceptical that dialogue will win any changes to Beijing’s plans for elections in the region. | But hundreds remained in Mongkok and around government offices in the city’s downtown, angered by Leung Chun-ying’s refusal to quit and deeply sceptical that dialogue will win any changes to Beijing’s plans for elections in the region. |
| Police formed a human chain in Mongkok to separate the two groups amid the wail of sirens. Beijing supporters shouted at police for failing to move on the pro-democracy demonstrations. | |
| V nasty mob mood in Mong Kok, cops holding crowd back but not many officers | V nasty mob mood in Mong Kok, cops holding crowd back but not many officers |
| Occupy protestors totally surrounded. Thugs keep trying to break through line. Police nos clearly inadequate to maintain order | Occupy protestors totally surrounded. Thugs keep trying to break through line. Police nos clearly inadequate to maintain order |
| Incoming pro-democracy demonstrators later reversed the numbers so it was the pro-Beijing protesters who were protected by a ring of police, who were also reinforced. | |
| More people came down because they were worried [by the clashes]. I just met a 58-year-old who believed that the [pro-democracy] protesters should go home. He said ‘they are causing an inconvenience ... but people are clearly being sent in to attack them and I don’t believe that’s right so therefore I’ve come down to try and defend them. | |
| Torrential rain drenched the remaining participants in the “umbrella revolution” or “umbrella movement” as a thunderstorm hit Hong Kong, with some insisting they would stay until there was evidence the government would really address their concerns. | Torrential rain drenched the remaining participants in the “umbrella revolution” or “umbrella movement” as a thunderstorm hit Hong Kong, with some insisting they would stay until there was evidence the government would really address their concerns. |
| Benny Tai, one of the co-founders of the Occupy Central movement, urged demonstrators to be tolerant of other citizens, including civil servants returning to work after the two-day holiday. | Benny Tai, one of the co-founders of the Occupy Central movement, urged demonstrators to be tolerant of other citizens, including civil servants returning to work after the two-day holiday. |
| “I hope we consider our needs, especially humanitarian needs, with tolerance,” he said, according to the South China Morning Post. | “I hope we consider our needs, especially humanitarian needs, with tolerance,” he said, according to the South China Morning Post. |
| There were also scuffles on Friday between police and demonstrators at Leung’s office, and angry debates between protesters trying to block the road running past it and the larger number who opposed them, warning it would only antagonise the public. | There were also scuffles on Friday between police and demonstrators at Leung’s office, and angry debates between protesters trying to block the road running past it and the larger number who opposed them, warning it would only antagonise the public. |
| Demonstrators created safe passage lines so that vehicles could get through. | Demonstrators created safe passage lines so that vehicles could get through. |
| The spontaneity and diversity of the movement will make it harder to bring the protest to a smooth end. Student and Occupy Central organisers have stressed for days that they are no longer the leaders of the protests. | The spontaneity and diversity of the movement will make it harder to bring the protest to a smooth end. Student and Occupy Central organisers have stressed for days that they are no longer the leaders of the protests. |
| At Causeway Bay, the third protest site, only a handful of protesters remained and police cleared away most of the barriers they had erected. Some residents complained angrily to demonstrators about the disruption. | At Causeway Bay, the third protest site, only a handful of protesters remained and police cleared away most of the barriers they had erected. Some residents complained angrily to demonstrators about the disruption. |
| Mongkok is popular with tourists from the mainland but not as well known to western tourists as the luxury shopping area of Causeway Bay. | Mongkok is popular with tourists from the mainland but not as well known to western tourists as the luxury shopping area of Causeway Bay. |
| Leung said in his 11th-hour press conference that he was staying, but announced that he had asked the chief secretary Carrie Lam to speak to student representatives, as they had requested. Beijing had earlier expressed its total confidence in his leadership. | Leung said in his 11th-hour press conference that he was staying, but announced that he had asked the chief secretary Carrie Lam to speak to student representatives, as they had requested. Beijing had earlier expressed its total confidence in his leadership. |
| The Hong Kong Federation of Students said in a statement early on Friday that it would take part in the talks with the government, stressing that the dialogue would cover only political reform. It repeated its demand that Leung step down, saying he “had lost his integrity”. | The Hong Kong Federation of Students said in a statement early on Friday that it would take part in the talks with the government, stressing that the dialogue would cover only political reform. It repeated its demand that Leung step down, saying he “had lost his integrity”. |
| Joshua Wong, co-founder of another student group, Scholarism, wrote on Facebook: “People have asked me what my position is. People have asked me what my thinking is. To me, it is not complicated nor hard to understand … For Leung Chun-ying to step down; to fight for civic nomination; the withdrawal of the NPC decision [which imposed tough restrictions on future chief executive elections].” | Joshua Wong, co-founder of another student group, Scholarism, wrote on Facebook: “People have asked me what my position is. People have asked me what my thinking is. To me, it is not complicated nor hard to understand … For Leung Chun-ying to step down; to fight for civic nomination; the withdrawal of the NPC decision [which imposed tough restrictions on future chief executive elections].” |
| Occupy Central also welcomed the talks but still insisted that Leung quit. Leung’s remarks were the first concession in a standoff that has lasted for days, with tens of thousands of protesters paralysing parts of central Hong Kong at its peak. | Occupy Central also welcomed the talks but still insisted that Leung quit. Leung’s remarks were the first concession in a standoff that has lasted for days, with tens of thousands of protesters paralysing parts of central Hong Kong at its peak. |