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| Hong Kong Protesters Resist Attempt to Clear Mong Kok Site | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| HONG KONG — Thousands of demonstrators surged into a Hong Kong neighborhood on Tuesday, defying a police attempt to shrink one of the protest camps that have filled some streets in the city for nearly two months. A display of official force early in the day gave way to a night of angry crowds facing off against police officers, some of them wielding batons and pepper spray. | HONG KONG — Thousands of demonstrators surged into a Hong Kong neighborhood on Tuesday, defying a police attempt to shrink one of the protest camps that have filled some streets in the city for nearly two months. A display of official force early in the day gave way to a night of angry crowds facing off against police officers, some of them wielding batons and pepper spray. |
| Police officers had initially assembled on Tuesday to enforce a court injunction demanding that protesters stop blocking Argyle Street in Mong Kok, a crowded commercial neighborhood where demonstrators have camped since late September. Two sites in other areas of Hong Kong are also occupied by protesters, who are demanding fully democratic elections for the city’s leader. | Police officers had initially assembled on Tuesday to enforce a court injunction demanding that protesters stop blocking Argyle Street in Mong Kok, a crowded commercial neighborhood where demonstrators have camped since late September. Two sites in other areas of Hong Kong are also occupied by protesters, who are demanding fully democratic elections for the city’s leader. |
| The police did not try to clear Nathan Road, where most of the protesters in Mong Kok have been camping. Still, even with hundreds of officers mobilized, clearing the 50-yard stretch of Argyle Street took much of the day. Hundreds of demonstrators and supporters had crowded into the area, many of them walking the brief distance from Nathan Road. | The police did not try to clear Nathan Road, where most of the protesters in Mong Kok have been camping. Still, even with hundreds of officers mobilized, clearing the 50-yard stretch of Argyle Street took much of the day. Hundreds of demonstrators and supporters had crowded into the area, many of them walking the brief distance from Nathan Road. |
| In the middle of the afternoon, the police ordered protesters, onlookers and reporters to move aside and allow court bailiffs to clear the street. After issuing warnings over megaphones, the police advanced and dragged off some of the people who had not left. | In the middle of the afternoon, the police ordered protesters, onlookers and reporters to move aside and allow court bailiffs to clear the street. After issuing warnings over megaphones, the police advanced and dragged off some of the people who had not left. |
| “They did not want our reinforcements to come in the evening, after working hours, so they rushed to clear us off the street,” said Matthew Wong, a 24-year-old information technology worker who was among the protesters. | “They did not want our reinforcements to come in the evening, after working hours, so they rushed to clear us off the street,” said Matthew Wong, a 24-year-old information technology worker who was among the protesters. |
| More than 80 people had been arrested for unlawful assembly, assaulting officers, obstruction and criminal contempt of court as of 8 p.m., according to a police spokeswoman. | More than 80 people had been arrested for unlawful assembly, assaulting officers, obstruction and criminal contempt of court as of 8 p.m., according to a police spokeswoman. |
| A hundred or so police officers remained on guard around Argyle Street after opening one lane to traffic. | A hundred or so police officers remained on guard around Argyle Street after opening one lane to traffic. |
| But as has happened before since the street demonstrations erupted, the police had difficulty maintaining control after initially dispersing the crowds. Protesters and onlookers massed outside a mall near the cleared street, and the police formed lines to try to get the growing crowd to move on, producing tense, chaotic scenes in the crammed area. | But as has happened before since the street demonstrations erupted, the police had difficulty maintaining control after initially dispersing the crowds. Protesters and onlookers massed outside a mall near the cleared street, and the police formed lines to try to get the growing crowd to move on, producing tense, chaotic scenes in the crammed area. |
| Milling groups of protesters discussed plans to push back the police or to defend their remaining area, which was filled with thousands of people. “If too many people go home because of work tomorrow, the police might break through,” said Ross Yang, an event manager in his 20s who was among the masked protesters. “We should keep going, to tell the government that force is not a solution.” | Milling groups of protesters discussed plans to push back the police or to defend their remaining area, which was filled with thousands of people. “If too many people go home because of work tomorrow, the police might break through,” said Ross Yang, an event manager in his 20s who was among the masked protesters. “We should keep going, to tell the government that force is not a solution.” |
| The Hong Kong police indicated that there would be no letup of pressure on Wednesday, when they would enforce a court injunction ordering people to clear Nathan Road. But thousands remained on the street late into the night. | The Hong Kong police indicated that there would be no letup of pressure on Wednesday, when they would enforce a court injunction ordering people to clear Nathan Road. But thousands remained on the street late into the night. |
| By evening, confrontations were bubbling up in various locations nearby as people got off work and joined the protesters, with the police unable to disperse them. | By evening, confrontations were bubbling up in various locations nearby as people got off work and joined the protesters, with the police unable to disperse them. |
| Outside one subway exit, hundreds of protesters and onlookers yelled at the police to retreat. The protesters handed out safety helmets and goggles, preparing for a tense night. | Outside one subway exit, hundreds of protesters and onlookers yelled at the police to retreat. The protesters handed out safety helmets and goggles, preparing for a tense night. |
| The police, for their part, shut a subway exit in an effort to limit the growing crowd, consisting mostly of young men. | The police, for their part, shut a subway exit in an effort to limit the growing crowd, consisting mostly of young men. |
| “I came to defend Mong Kok,” said one of them, Cyril Wong, a sales representative. “They want to clear this place. We will just stay here and defend it. If they use pepper spray or sticks, we will defend ourselves. We never attack the police.” | “I came to defend Mong Kok,” said one of them, Cyril Wong, a sales representative. “They want to clear this place. We will just stay here and defend it. If they use pepper spray or sticks, we will defend ourselves. We never attack the police.” |
| On one side street, the police’s liberal use of pepper spray seemed to have a unifying effect on the members of the crowd, who passed umbrellas, helmets, surgical masks and bottles of water to their allies on the front line. | On one side street, the police’s liberal use of pepper spray seemed to have a unifying effect on the members of the crowd, who passed umbrellas, helmets, surgical masks and bottles of water to their allies on the front line. |
| The scuffles and arrests on Tuesday, with defiant crowds behind makeshift barricades taunting and berating the police, gave a taste of what could ensue if the police move to clear Nathan Road, where hundreds of protesters have been camping out and where raucous nighttime rallies have often drawn hundreds more. | The scuffles and arrests on Tuesday, with defiant crowds behind makeshift barricades taunting and berating the police, gave a taste of what could ensue if the police move to clear Nathan Road, where hundreds of protesters have been camping out and where raucous nighttime rallies have often drawn hundreds more. |
| Around 10:15 p.m., the tensions erupted into near panic when officers pushed back a crowd of a thousand or more, sending them spilling onto Nathan Road. The demonstrators then regrouped and held back the hundreds of advancing officers. | Around 10:15 p.m., the tensions erupted into near panic when officers pushed back a crowd of a thousand or more, sending them spilling onto Nathan Road. The demonstrators then regrouped and held back the hundreds of advancing officers. |
| Mong Kok has seen some of the worst clashes of the protests, which have generally been nonviolent. An attempt by the police to clear the site on Oct. 17 ended in humiliation when thousands of protesters surged in and forced officers to withdraw. Earlier in October, groups of men, some later identified by the police as members of criminal gangs, attacked protesters there in a failed effort to scatter them. | Mong Kok has seen some of the worst clashes of the protests, which have generally been nonviolent. An attempt by the police to clear the site on Oct. 17 ended in humiliation when thousands of protesters surged in and forced officers to withdraw. Earlier in October, groups of men, some later identified by the police as members of criminal gangs, attacked protesters there in a failed effort to scatter them. |
| The demonstrators want the Chinese government to open elections for the city’s leader, or chief executive, to candidates who have not been screened by Beijing. In recent weeks, the loosely organized protest movement has become polarized between moderates, mostly student leaders and older politicians, and more zealous activists. | The demonstrators want the Chinese government to open elections for the city’s leader, or chief executive, to candidates who have not been screened by Beijing. In recent weeks, the loosely organized protest movement has become polarized between moderates, mostly student leaders and older politicians, and more zealous activists. |
| Growing numbers of protesters have said it is time to consider leaving their street camps. But a minority, which is especially vocal at the Mong Kok site, argues that only continued defiance can win concessions from the government. | Growing numbers of protesters have said it is time to consider leaving their street camps. But a minority, which is especially vocal at the Mong Kok site, argues that only continued defiance can win concessions from the government. |
| Frankie Chan, a student at the Mong Kok protest, said many participants would judge the level of support before deciding whether to leave the area entirely or put up resistance on Nathan Road if the police tried to clear it. | Frankie Chan, a student at the Mong Kok protest, said many participants would judge the level of support before deciding whether to leave the area entirely or put up resistance on Nathan Road if the police tried to clear it. |
| “It all depends on whether we have the numbers to try to stay,” he said. “Even if there are many police, we can try to stay as long as possible if there are enough people.” | “It all depends on whether we have the numbers to try to stay,” he said. “Even if there are many police, we can try to stay as long as possible if there are enough people.” |