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Hong Kong democracy protesters brace for final camp shutdown Hong Kong democracy protesters brace for final camp shutdown
(about 5 hours later)
BEIJING — Hong Kong police said Tuesday they would clear the city’s main pro-democracy camp later this week, setting up a possible final showdown with protesters after a court order authorized the sweeps. BEIJING — Hong Kong police said Tuesday that they would clear the city’s main pro-democracy camp later this week, setting up a possible final showdown with protesters after a court order authorized the sweeps.
The operation, set to begin Thursday, reflects the waning support for demonstrators after more than two months of civil disobedience and clashes that began over Beijing’s role in directing elections in the former British colony. The operation, set to begin Thursday, reflects the waning support for demonstrators after more than two months of civil disobedience and clashes over Beijing’s role in directing elections in the former British colony.
Sympathy for the student-led protesters was high at the outset, especially after police used tear gas. But support has fallen during the prolonged occupation and in response to more confrontational tactics by the radical fringe, whose members tried to break into government offices. Sympathy for the student-led protesters was high at the outset, especially after police used tear gas. But support has fallen during the prolonged occupation and in response to more-confrontational tactics by the radical fringe, whose members tried to break into government offices.
Authorities will begin clearing the main site in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district at 9 a.m. on Thursday, according to a lawyer representing a bus company that brought the successful court action. Authorities will begin clearing the main site in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district at 9 a.m. Thursday, according to a lawyer representing a bus company that brought the successful court action.
Although the court order did not cover the entire protest site, police said they would take the opportunity to clear all the occupied areas.Although the court order did not cover the entire protest site, police said they would take the opportunity to clear all the occupied areas.
“After we assist the bailiffs clearing the areas in the injunction, we will clear the rest of the occupied areas according to the law,” the assistant police commissioner, Cheung Tak-Keung, told a news conference, warning police would not allow protesters time to pack up their belongings and would arrest anyone who obstructed them. “After we assist the bailiffs clearing the areas in the injunction, we will clear the rest of the occupied areas according to the law,” the assistant police commissioner, Cheung Tak-Keung, said at a news conference, warning that police would not allow protesters time to pack up their belongings and would arrest anyone who obstructed them.
“Police will not take actions if protesters stick to their original principles of peace and non-violence, but we have seen violence being used,” he said. “Protesters should not step up their actions or police will have to use more force.” “Police will not take actions if protesters stick to their original principles of peace and nonviolence, but we have seen violence being used,” he said. “Protesters should not step up their actions or police will have to use more force.”
Numbers have dwindled sharply at the pro-democracy protests in recent weeks and morale appears to be flagging. Some protesters have begun packing their tents and removing artwork from the site this week in anticipation of the final clear-out. Numbers at the pro-democracy protests have dwindled sharply in recent weeks, and morale appears to be flagging. Some protesters have begun packing their tents and removing artwork from the site this week in anticipation of the final clear-out.
Hundreds of people thronged the site late Tuesday to capture what could be the last photos of the area, which has been part of the most serious challenge to China’s control of Hong Kong since it was handed over in 1997. Hundreds of people thronged the site late Tuesday to capture what could be the last photos of the protest. The movement represents the most serious challenge to China’s control of Hong Kong since the territory was handed over in 1997.
Police shut down another protest site in another Hong Kong district, Mong Kok, late last month after a separate court order, making around 160 arrests in several nights of clashes with protesters. Police shut down a protest site in another Hong Kong district, Mong Kok, late last month after a separate court order, making about 160 arrests in several nights of clashes with demonstrators.
Activists at a third, much-smaller site in Causeway Bay may leave of their own accord this week, one of their members told the Bloomberg news agency. Activists at a third, much-smaller site in Causeway Bay may leave of their own accord this week, one of them told Bloomberg News.
Hong Kong’s chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, said officers would use “minimum force” while clearing the streets this week, but has also warned they could face “fierce resistance.” Hong Kong’s chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, said officers would use “minimum force” while clearing the streets this week, but he has also warned that they could face “fierce resistance.”
The protest movement began as a non-violent civil disobedience campaign in late September, campaigning for full democracy and free elections to choose Leung’s successor in 2017. Beijing demands the right to screen candidates in those elections. The protest movement began as a nonviolent civil disobedience campaign in late September pressing for full democracy and free elections to choose Leung’s successor in 2017. Beijing demands the right to screen candidates.
Although public support has fallen off, police also have become less popular for their handling of the protests, according to an opinion poll released Tuesday. Although public support for the movement has fallen off, police also have become less popular for their handling of the protests, according to an opinion poll released Tuesday.
The study, conducted by Hong Kong University’s Public Opinion Monitoring Program in late November, showed the popularity of the police force hitting its lowest level since the Chinese takeover 17 years ago. The study, conducted by Hong Kong University’s Public Opinion Monitoring Program late last month, showed police popularity hitting its lowest level since 1997.
Recently, students have tried to breathe new life into the protest movement by attempting to surround government buildings and, when that simply caused more clashes with police, by staging a hunger strike. Recently, students have tried to breathe new life into the protest movement by attempting to surround government buildings and, when that caused more clashes with police, by staging a hunger strike.
However, the most prominent hunger striker, 18-year-old student leader Joshua Wong, abandoned that effort at the weekend on doctor’s orders after nearly five days. However, the most prominent hunger-striker, 18-year-old student leader Joshua Wong, abandoned that effort this weekend on doctor’s orders after nearly five days.
Benny Tai, the law professor who came up with the original idea to occupy streets, said it was now time to end that phase of the pro-democracy movement. Benny Tai, the law professor who came up with the idea to occupy streets, said it was now time to end that phase of the pro-democracy movement.
“Continuing the occupation is high risk with low return,” he wrote in the Apple Daily newspaper on Tuesday. “Continuing the occupation is high risk with low return,” he wrote Tuesday in the Apple Daily newspaper.
But experts say the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong will not end once the streets are cleared. With young people increasingly politicized and alienated from the Communist Party government in Beijing — and support for democratic reforms still high — there are likely to be more protests in coming years, many predict. But experts say the movement will not end once Hong Kong’s streets are cleared. With young people increasingly politicized and alienated from the Beijing’s Communist Party government — and support for democratic reforms still high — there are likely to be more protests in coming years, many predict.
“If we look at it from winning over Hong Kong’s people. It has already achieved a lot, even more than what was expected,” argued Tai. “If we look at it from winning over Hong Kong’s people, it has already achieved a lot, even more than what was expected,” Tai said.