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Hong Kong demonstrators divided on whether to end protest | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
HONG KONG — Pro-democracy demonstrators were split Sunday night on whether to continue their week-long occupation of multiple sites in Hong Kong in the face of a government warning to clear the streets by Monday morning. | |
Anxiety, confusion and disagreements were visible as a group of protesters agreed to retreat from barricades blocking the offices of Hong Kong’s chief executive, only to watch other protesters rush in to take their place and refuse to leave. | |
As midnight approached, a sizable crowd remained in front of the chief executive’s building. | |
Nicholas Chan, 25, said he rushed over after work as some protesters were walking away. Since then, he and dozens of others have not budged from their spot. | |
“I’m planning to stay all night here, I have clothes I can use as a pillow if necessary,” he said. Some of his friends had retreated to other protest sites, like the main encampment in front of the government headquarters and the central business district, viewing them as safer locations. | “I’m planning to stay all night here, I have clothes I can use as a pillow if necessary,” he said. Some of his friends had retreated to other protest sites, like the main encampment in front of the government headquarters and the central business district, viewing them as safer locations. |
Many who had taken up position outside the chief executive’s office said that if police try to clear out the protesters, this would be the first battle line. They pointed out that this was the road Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying would have to take to get to work. | Many who had taken up position outside the chief executive’s office said that if police try to clear out the protesters, this would be the first battle line. They pointed out that this was the road Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying would have to take to get to work. |
“I’m here because I want to see for myself just how far police will go if all we do is sit here peacefully,” Chan said. | |
The decentralized nature of the demonstrations and occupations — a protest against voting restrictions imposed by Beijing — meant that it was virtually impossible to dissuade many of the hard-core demonstrators from standing their ground. | The decentralized nature of the demonstrations and occupations — a protest against voting restrictions imposed by Beijing — meant that it was virtually impossible to dissuade many of the hard-core demonstrators from standing their ground. |
At a protest site in the working-class neighborhood of Mong Kok, attackers, including some identified as members of triad gangs, part of Chinese organized crime, had assaulted largely peaceful protesters. In response, some demonstrators called for a retreat to the main protest site outside the government headquarters. Others, however, vowed to stay indefinitely. | |
Student leaders had called on the protesters in Mong Kok to withdraw, fearing for their safety, but crowds remained there as night fell Sunday. | |
At a third site, in the commercial district of Causeway Bay, protesters continued their occupation as tensions between them and local residents mounted. | |
A host of university presidents and high school principals appealed to students to withdraw. “Please leave now. You owe it to your loved ones to put your safety above all other considerations,” said Peter Mathieson, president of Hong Kong University. | A host of university presidents and high school principals appealed to students to withdraw. “Please leave now. You owe it to your loved ones to put your safety above all other considerations,” said Peter Mathieson, president of Hong Kong University. |
The previous night, protesters had turned out in force at a rally near the government headquarters, in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district, galvanized after days of flagging momentum by violent attacks on their ranks and an ultimatum by authorities to clear out of the streets by Monday morning. | The previous night, protesters had turned out in force at a rally near the government headquarters, in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district, galvanized after days of flagging momentum by violent attacks on their ranks and an ultimatum by authorities to clear out of the streets by Monday morning. |
Some demonstrators admitted that they planned to leave the site, but others insisted that they wanted to see the protest through to the very end — which could involve a police crackdown. | Some demonstrators admitted that they planned to leave the site, but others insisted that they wanted to see the protest through to the very end — which could involve a police crackdown. |
The rally was a show of defiance, marked by songs, raucous pro-democracy chants and speeches hailing the student demonstrators’ accomplishments. Some in attendance viewed the moment as a kind of coda to the protests, led by a new generation that refuses to let Beijing dictate the terms by which Hong Kong’s society is governed. | The rally was a show of defiance, marked by songs, raucous pro-democracy chants and speeches hailing the student demonstrators’ accomplishments. Some in attendance viewed the moment as a kind of coda to the protests, led by a new generation that refuses to let Beijing dictate the terms by which Hong Kong’s society is governed. |
“This may be over tomorrow,” said Ada Lam, 25, a kindergarten teacher. “But we will never lose this time. We will go forward with it in our hearts.” | “This may be over tomorrow,” said Ada Lam, 25, a kindergarten teacher. “But we will never lose this time. We will go forward with it in our hearts.” |
The resurgent protest around the government’s headquarters came as demonstrations elsewhere in the city appeared to be fizzling. | The resurgent protest around the government’s headquarters came as demonstrations elsewhere in the city appeared to be fizzling. |
Morale among the protesters had sagged after Friday, when it became clear that students’ demands would not be fully met. | Morale among the protesters had sagged after Friday, when it became clear that students’ demands would not be fully met. |
Many were also exhausted. “I will stay here as long as others are staying here,” said David Chan, a university student. “But I am tired. My family wants me to come home. I miss my bed.” | Many were also exhausted. “I will stay here as long as others are staying here,” said David Chan, a university student. “But I am tired. My family wants me to come home. I miss my bed.” |