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Hong Kong protests: Student leaders postpone talks | Hong Kong protests: Student leaders postpone talks |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Leaders of a pro-democracy student group in Hong Kong have postponed talks with the government after demonstrators got into scuffles with opponents. | |
The group said the authorities were failing to protect protesters. | |
Police denied colluding with those who used violence against the protesters, and said they had arrested members of the triad criminal gangs. | |
Activists are protesting at plans by China to vet election candidates and have been occupying parts of the city. | |
Hong Kong's leader on Thursday offered talks to defuse the situation after the protesters called for his resignation. | |
But scuffles broke out as people apparently angry with the disruption caused by the protests tried to dismantle tents and barricades. | |
'Broken promise' | 'Broken promise' |
The Hong Kong Federation of Students, which was invited to negotiations with the government, said in a statement it had "shelved" the talks. A time and place for the negotiations had never been confirmed. | |
"The government allowed the mafia to attack peaceful Occupy participants. It has cut off the path to a dialogue, and should be responsible for the consequences," it said. | "The government allowed the mafia to attack peaceful Occupy participants. It has cut off the path to a dialogue, and should be responsible for the consequences," it said. |
"The government has not kept its promise. We have no choice but to shelve the talks." | "The government has not kept its promise. We have no choice but to shelve the talks." |
It was not clear whether the statement reflected the position of other groups involved in the protest. | It was not clear whether the statement reflected the position of other groups involved in the protest. |
Occupy Central leader Benny Tai told the BBC they were still only considering a boycott of the talks. However, he said police were not protecting the demonstrators against attacks by their opponents and this situation could not continue. | Occupy Central leader Benny Tai told the BBC they were still only considering a boycott of the talks. However, he said police were not protecting the demonstrators against attacks by their opponents and this situation could not continue. |
"At this point it's very, very difficult to maintain any sense of dialogue if the government does not stop these things happening to peaceful protesters," he said. | "At this point it's very, very difficult to maintain any sense of dialogue if the government does not stop these things happening to peaceful protesters," he said. |
There was no immediate response from the government to the postponement. | There was no immediate response from the government to the postponement. |
But in a late-night news conference, reported by the South China Morning Post newspaper, police gave their account of events. | |
They denied accusations by the protesters that they had acted in concert with forces trying to break up the protest. | |
They said 19 people had been arrested, eight of whom had "triad backgrounds", referring to local criminal gangs. | |
'Just a game' | 'Just a game' |
In the commercial district of Mong Kok, on the Kowloon peninsula, opponents of the demonstrators had tried to dismantle tents. | In the commercial district of Mong Kok, on the Kowloon peninsula, opponents of the demonstrators had tried to dismantle tents. |
Police linked arms to try to separate the opposing groups. | Police linked arms to try to separate the opposing groups. |
Later, more pro-democracy activists flooded the area and by evening vastly outnumbered their opponents, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Mong Kok. | |
They began chanting: "Go back to the mainland." Many activists suspect that these people are coordinated by the Hong Kong or Chinese governments. | They began chanting: "Go back to the mainland." Many activists suspect that these people are coordinated by the Hong Kong or Chinese governments. |
But their very presence there is a reminder that not everyone in Hong Kong is on the side of the protesters, our correspondent says. | But their very presence there is a reminder that not everyone in Hong Kong is on the side of the protesters, our correspondent says. |
At least some of the protesters' opponents appear to be local residents angered by the disruption. | At least some of the protesters' opponents appear to be local residents angered by the disruption. |
"I don't support Occupy Central. We have to work and make money. Occupy is just a game," said a construction worker who gave his name as Mr Lee, quoted by AFP news agency. | "I don't support Occupy Central. We have to work and make money. Occupy is just a game," said a construction worker who gave his name as Mr Lee, quoted by AFP news agency. |
"Give us Mong Kok back, we Hong Kongers need to eat!" another said. | "Give us Mong Kok back, we Hong Kongers need to eat!" another said. |
Similar scuffles took place in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, where residents tried to remove barricades put up by pro-democracy protesters. | Similar scuffles took place in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, where residents tried to remove barricades put up by pro-democracy protesters. |
The UK-based human rights group Amnesty International said that during the clashes police "stood by". | |
"The authorities have failed in their duty to protect peaceful protesters who came under attack," the group's Hong Kong director Mabel Au said. | |
She added that there were witness accounts of women being physically attacked in the two areas. | |
'Doomed to fail' | 'Doomed to fail' |
Government offices in the main protest-hit area have been closed, with the authorities urging staff to work from home because roads were blocked. | Government offices in the main protest-hit area have been closed, with the authorities urging staff to work from home because roads were blocked. |
At the heart of the row is how Hong Kong elects its next leader. In August, Beijing imposed tight rules on nominations for candidates wanting to stand for election. | At the heart of the row is how Hong Kong elects its next leader. In August, Beijing imposed tight rules on nominations for candidates wanting to stand for election. |
The protesters say this move means that the polls will fall short of the free elections they are seeking. | The protesters say this move means that the polls will fall short of the free elections they are seeking. |
Several days into their week-long demonstrations, the protesters added the demand that Chief Executive CY Leung step down. | Several days into their week-long demonstrations, the protesters added the demand that Chief Executive CY Leung step down. |
Mr Leung refused late on Thursday but offered talks with his deputy, which the activists accepted. | Mr Leung refused late on Thursday but offered talks with his deputy, which the activists accepted. |
The central government in Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail". | The central government in Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail". |
Hong Kong democracy timeline | Hong Kong democracy timeline |
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy | Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy |
Are you affected by the protests? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you affected by the protests? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.ukor text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.ukor text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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