This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/world/asia/hong-kong-protests.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Protesters in Hong Kong Ease Sit-In at Government Headquarters Protesters in Hong Kong Ease Sit-In at Government Headquarters
(about 1 hour later)
HONG KONG — Pro-democracy demonstrators began easing their blockade of the offices of Hong Kong’s leader on Sunday and wavered over whether to abandon another key encampment as the government set a deadline of the next morning for the police to restore access to the government’s headquarters. HONG KONG — Pro-democracy demonstrators began easing their blockade of the offices of Hong Kong’s leader on Sunday and wavered over whether to abandon another key encampment as the government set a deadline of Monday morning for the police to restore access to the government’s headquarters.
But it was unclear whether either concession had the support of any of the main protest organizations and could be sustained in the face of criticism by protesters set against compromise. Nor was it clear that the moves would be enough to prevent a confrontation with the police, who received orders to clear away demonstrations outside government buildings by the start of the workweek. It was unclear whether either concession had the support of any of the main protest organizations and could be sustained in the face of criticism by protesters set against compromise. It was also not clear that the moves would be enough to prevent a confrontation with the police, who received orders to clear away demonstrations outside government buildings by the start of the workweek.
The protest sit-in campaign, which entered its tenth day, appeared at a crossroads, beset by confusion and seesaw reversals among demonstrators exhausted and increasingly divided over how to proceed. Hours after protesters began allowing vehicles to enter and leave the complex housing the offices of Hong Kong’s chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, student leaders addressing a crowd of supporters said nothing of the decision but declared that they were not retreating. The sit-in campaign, which entered its 10th day, appeared at a crossroads, plagued by confusion and seesaw reversals among demonstrators exhausted and increasingly divided over how to proceed.
Alex Chow, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of the groups at the forefront of the pro-democracy demonstrations, said the “occupy” sit-ins would continue while the federation opened exploratory talks with the government. He warned that the talks would be suspended if the government made any attempt to forcefully drive away the protesters. Hours after protesters began allowing vehicles to enter and leave the complex where the offices of Hong Kong’s chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, are, student leaders addressing a crowd of supporters said nothing of the decision but declared that they were not retreating.
Alex Chow, secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of the groups at the forefront of the pro-democracy demonstrations, said the “occupy” sit-ins would continue while the federation opened talks with the government. He warned that the talks would be suspended if the government made any attempt to forcefully drive away the protesters.
“A dialogue is not a compromise,” Mr. Chow said from a stage at the main protest camp. “We will start arranging talks with the government, because we understand that there are people in both the government and here who want to solve society’s problems.”“A dialogue is not a compromise,” Mr. Chow said from a stage at the main protest camp. “We will start arranging talks with the government, because we understand that there are people in both the government and here who want to solve society’s problems.”
“We will not back down,” he added.“We will not back down,” he added.
The Monday morning deadline set up a possible confrontation between the passionate, often disjointed protest movement and a government that, taking its cue from Beijing, has refused to compromise on the protesters’ broadly shared demands: Mr. Leung’s resignation and democratic elections for his successor. The Monday morning deadline set up a possible confrontation between the passionate and often disjointed protest movement, and a government that, taking its cue from Beijing, has refused to compromise on the protesters’ broadly shared demands: Mr. Leung’s resignation and democratic elections for his successor.
The police have been given leeway on how and when to enforce the orders to disperse the demonstrators, said two people with detailed knowledge of the government’s deliberations, both of whom insisted on anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions. The police have been given leeway on how and when to enforce the orders to disperse the demonstrators, said two people with detailed knowledge of the government’s deliberations, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
Mr. Leung “has laid down the word: Offices have to be accessible by tomorrow morning,” one of the two people said. The Hong Kong police are capable of clearing the streets and would not need help from mainland Chinese security forces, that person said.Mr. Leung “has laid down the word: Offices have to be accessible by tomorrow morning,” one of the two people said. The Hong Kong police are capable of clearing the streets and would not need help from mainland Chinese security forces, that person said.
“The protesters are also looking for a way to stand down, though some die-hards would remain — minimum force would be used only if needed,” the person said, adding that the precise time for moving in on protesters was being left to the discretion of the police.“The protesters are also looking for a way to stand down, though some die-hards would remain — minimum force would be used only if needed,” the person said, adding that the precise time for moving in on protesters was being left to the discretion of the police.
The police used tear gas a week ago in an attempt to disperse protesters, but more crowds arrived in response to what were perceived by many as unnecessarily heavy-handed tactics by the authorities. The police used tear gas a week ago in an effort to disperse protesters, but more crowds arrived in response to what were perceived by many as unnecessarily heavy-handed tactics by the authorities.
Dennis Kwok, a lawyer and member of the city’s Legislative Council who calls himself a moderate democrat, said in an interview that people aligned with the establishment had told him that the police would be sent to protest zones Sunday night, with the aim of clearing them. But he said it was unclear how the police could accomplish that. Regina Ip, a pro-Beijing lawmaker and the city’s former top security official, said the government was prepared to use such forceful measures again to restore access to government buildings, to ensure local schools can reopen and to clear roads for traffic. But she acknowledged it would not be easy. “This won’t be over in a matter of the next few days; it will drag on for a while,” she said.
“If they use tear gas, that will bring people into the streets again,” he said, referring to the aggressive police actions against student protesters on Sept. 28 that attracted wider public support to the movement. “The Hong Kong government played its hand so badly. They left themselves with very few options. They shouldn’t have used tear gas that day.” Dennis Kwok, a lawyer and member of the city’s Legislative Council who calls himself a moderate democrat, said in an interview that people aligned with the establishment had told him that the police would be sent to protest zones overnight, with the aim of clearing them. But he said it was unclear how the police could accomplish that.
At a news conference on Sunday afternoon, Hui Chun-tak, the chief spokesman of the Hong Kong police, appealed to protesters to remove barricades from the streets, but refrained from setting deadlines. “We are determined to take all necessary actions to restore the public order,” he said. “If they use tear gas, that will bring people into the streets again,” he said, referring to the aggressive police actions against student protesters on Sept. 28 that attracted wider public support to the movement. “The Hong Kong government played its hand so badly. They left themselves with very few options.”
Meanwhile, a government spokesman urged student leaders to clear a footbridge leading to the main government offices and to allow 3,000 staff members to return to work on Monday. He also asked for roads in Admiralty, near the government offices, to be reopened so that schools in the area could resume classes. Hui Chun-tak, the chief spokesman of the Hong Kong police, appealed to protesters to remove barricades from the streets and said the police were “determined to take all necessary actions to restore the public order.”
A government spokesman, meanwhile, urged student leaders to clear a footbridge leading to the main government offices and to allow 3,000 staff members to return to work on Monday. He also asked for roads in Admiralty, near the government offices, to be reopened so that schools in the area could resume classes.
The Hong Kong Federation of Students said a path would be opened for civil servants. But thousands of protesters have been occupying the roads around the offices and have blocked the entrances to the chief executive’s office, and the federation said it was “hard to persuade protesters to leave when there hasn’t been any progress on their demands over political reform.”The Hong Kong Federation of Students said a path would be opened for civil servants. But thousands of protesters have been occupying the roads around the offices and have blocked the entrances to the chief executive’s office, and the federation said it was “hard to persuade protesters to leave when there hasn’t been any progress on their demands over political reform.”
Some protesters outside the offices on Sunday night vowed to stay. “I won’t retreat, unless the police crack down with force,” said Kelvin Chung, 22, a recent graduate from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.Some protesters outside the offices on Sunday night vowed to stay. “I won’t retreat, unless the police crack down with force,” said Kelvin Chung, 22, a recent graduate from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Others were looking for a way out. “This movement can’t last very long. Someone has to compromise,” said Carmen Lee, a politics and European studies major at the University of Hong Kong. “Students and workers can’t strike forever. We’ll lose public support over time.” Others were looking for a way out. “This movement can’t last very long; someone has to compromise,” said Carmen Lee, a politics and European studies major at the University of Hong Kong. “Students and workers can’t strike forever. We’ll lose public support over time.”
The arguments were especially poignant in Mong Kok, the densely populated neighborhood where a protest encampment came under attack Friday by men who punched and kicked demonstrators. A hostile crowd of residents, upset by the inconvenience caused by the sit-in, cheered them on. The assaults have outraged students, many of whom accused the government of looking the other way or even hiring the thugs.The arguments were especially poignant in Mong Kok, the densely populated neighborhood where a protest encampment came under attack Friday by men who punched and kicked demonstrators. A hostile crowd of residents, upset by the inconvenience caused by the sit-in, cheered them on. The assaults have outraged students, many of whom accused the government of looking the other way or even hiring the thugs.
After calls by a host of prominent citizens for them to leave the area, including a former chief justice, university leaders and church figures, some protesters in Mong Kok decided on Sunday to move to the main protest area near the government offices. But later in the evening, the crowd swelled with young protesters who sat listening to speakers urging them to stay.​After calls by a host of prominent citizens for them to leave the area, including a former chief justice, university leaders and church figures, some protesters in Mong Kok decided on Sunday to move to the main protest area near the government offices. But later in the evening, the crowd swelled with young protesters who sat listening to speakers urging them to stay.​
“Mong Kok is the most important place in our campaign,” said one of the protesters, Luke Ng, an 18-year-old student. “If Mong Kok can stay together, then we will win.”“Mong Kok is the most important place in our campaign,” said one of the protesters, Luke Ng, an 18-year-old student. “If Mong Kok can stay together, then we will win.”
Some protesters said anger over the police response to the attacks had undermined chances for a negotiated withdrawal by the movement.Some protesters said anger over the police response to the attacks had undermined chances for a negotiated withdrawal by the movement.
“The police reaction to the triads has cut off the opportunity to leave,” said Miu Ying-kui, a sociology student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, referring to underworld gangs that the police said some of the assailants had ties to. “We Hong Kong people have totally lost confidence in the government, so it’s very difficult for us to step down.”“The police reaction to the triads has cut off the opportunity to leave,” said Miu Ying-kui, a sociology student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, referring to underworld gangs that the police said some of the assailants had ties to. “We Hong Kong people have totally lost confidence in the government, so it’s very difficult for us to step down.”
Real decision-making power on the side of the authorities rests in Beijing with China’s president, Xi Jinping. Since assuming leadership of the Communist Party in late 2012, Mr. Xi has repeatedly demanded vigilance against threats to party control and national sovereignty, especially from Western powers. To the party leadership, the youthful democratic movement in Hong Kong, a former British colony that has preserved its own legal system and liberties, embodies those perceived threats.Real decision-making power on the side of the authorities rests in Beijing with China’s president, Xi Jinping. Since assuming leadership of the Communist Party in late 2012, Mr. Xi has repeatedly demanded vigilance against threats to party control and national sovereignty, especially from Western powers. To the party leadership, the youthful democratic movement in Hong Kong, a former British colony that has preserved its own legal system and liberties, embodies those perceived threats.
Mr. Xi and other Chinese leaders have not spoken publicly about the eruption of unrest in Hong Kong, but mainland news outlets have stepped up reports and commentaries describing the movement as a “color revolution,” a scheme orchestrated by outsiders to challenge party rule across all of China, using Hong Kong as a bridgehead.Mr. Xi and other Chinese leaders have not spoken publicly about the eruption of unrest in Hong Kong, but mainland news outlets have stepped up reports and commentaries describing the movement as a “color revolution,” a scheme orchestrated by outsiders to challenge party rule across all of China, using Hong Kong as a bridgehead.
The protesters have responded that their movement is a peaceful, grassroots campaign, with aims limited to Hong Kong. The protesters have responded that their movement is a peaceful, grass-roots campaign, with aims limited to Hong Kong.
“Now we are students, but in 10 or 20 years, we will be adults and will be responsible for this society. We need to stand up now and speak,” said Matthew Yu, 15, who was at the main protest encampment. “Young students have been told to run if police begin clearing the area, to protect their safety,” he added, “but some will probably stay.”“Now we are students, but in 10 or 20 years, we will be adults and will be responsible for this society. We need to stand up now and speak,” said Matthew Yu, 15, who was at the main protest encampment. “Young students have been told to run if police begin clearing the area, to protect their safety,” he added, “but some will probably stay.”