Sunday, September 28, 2014

At least 34 injured as police and protesters clash in Hong Kong - CNN






Hong Kong is being gripped by pro-democracy protests as student-led groups take to the streets. The protesters are responding to China's decision to allow only Beijing-vetted candidates to stand in the city's elections for chief executive. Above, tear gas is fired at protesters on Sunday, September 28, 2014. Click through for more scenes from the protests: Hong Kong is being gripped by pro-democracy protests as student-led groups take to the streets. The protesters are responding to China's decision to allow only Beijing-vetted candidates to stand in the city's elections for chief executive. Above, tear gas is fired at protesters on Sunday, September 28, 2014. Click through for more scenes from the protests:

The protests, which have seen thousands of students in their teens and 20s take to the streets, swelled in size over the weekend. Police on September 28 used pepper spray and tear gas against demonstrators.The protests, which have seen thousands of students in their teens and 20s take to the streets, swelled in size over the weekend. Police on September 28 used pepper spray and tear gas against demonstrators.

There is an "optimal amount of police officers dispersed" around the scene, a Hong Kong police spokesperson told CNN on September 28.There is an "optimal amount of police officers dispersed" around the scene, a Hong Kong police spokesperson told CNN on September 28.

Clashes between pro-democracy students and police continued in the financial district on September 28. Clashes between pro-democracy students and police continued in the financial district on September 28.

Riot police use tear gas against protesters blocking a main road to Hong Kong's financial central district outside the government headquarters on September 28.Riot police use tear gas against protesters blocking a main road to Hong Kong's financial central district outside the government headquarters on September 28.

Police and protesters clash during a tense stand-off with thousands of student demonstrators, recently joined by the like-minded Occupy Central movement, on September 28.Police and protesters clash during a tense stand-off with thousands of student demonstrators, recently joined by the like-minded Occupy Central movement, on September 28.

Police officers rest near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on September 28. Police officers rest near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on September 28.

Riot police clash with protesters on September 28. Riot police clash with protesters on September 28.

Thousands of people kick off Occupy Central by taking over Connaught Road, one of the major highways in Hong Kong, on September 28.Thousands of people kick off Occupy Central by taking over Connaught Road, one of the major highways in Hong Kong, on September 28.

Benny Tai (center), founder of Occupy Central movement, raises a fist after announcing the group would join the students during a demonstration outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on September 28.Benny Tai (center), founder of Occupy Central movement, raises a fist after announcing the group would join the students during a demonstration outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on September 28.

Pro-democracy activist and former legislator Martin Lee wears goggles and a mask to protect against pepper spray on September 28.Pro-democracy activist and former legislator Martin Lee wears goggles and a mask to protect against pepper spray on September 28.

A pro-democracy activist shouts at police officers behind a fence with yellow ribbons on September 28. A pro-democracy activist shouts at police officers behind a fence with yellow ribbons on September 28.

A sign for the Hong Kong central government offices is been crossed out with red tape by democracy activists on September 28. A sign for the Hong Kong central government offices is been crossed out with red tape by democracy activists on September 28.

Protesters gather during a demonstration on September 28 outside the headquarters of the Legislative Counsel as calls for Beijing to grant the city universal suffrage grow louder and more fractious.Protesters gather during a demonstration on September 28 outside the headquarters of the Legislative Counsel as calls for Beijing to grant the city universal suffrage grow louder and more fractious.

Protesters tie up barricades on September 28 during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Protesters tie up barricades on September 28 during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong.

Protesters use barricades to block the road during a rally on September 27. Thousands of students from more than 20 tertiary institutions entered a weeklong boycott of classes. Protesters use barricades to block the road during a rally on September 27. Thousands of students from more than 20 tertiary institutions entered a weeklong boycott of classes.

A protester holds a banner during a rally on September 27 outside Hong Kong's waterfront government complex.A protester holds a banner during a rally on September 27 outside Hong Kong's waterfront government complex.

A protester uses a mask and plastic to protect himself from pepper spray during a demonstration at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on Saturday, September 27. A protester uses a mask and plastic to protect himself from pepper spray during a demonstration at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on Saturday, September 27.

An injured protester is tended to after clashing with riot police outside Hong Kong government complex on September 27. An injured protester is tended to after clashing with riot police outside Hong Kong government complex on September 27.

Protesters clash with riot police outside Hong Kong government complex on September 27. Protesters clash with riot police outside Hong Kong government complex on September 27.

People look from on high as pro-democracy demonstrators are surrounded by police after storming into a courtyard outside Hong Kong's legislative headquarters on Friday, September 26. People look from on high as pro-democracy demonstrators are surrounded by police after storming into a courtyard outside Hong Kong's legislative headquarters on Friday, September 26.

Students march to the Government House in Hong Kong on Thursday, September 25. Students march to the Government House in Hong Kong on Thursday, September 25.

A police officer reacts after students in Hong Kong attach yellow ribbons to the barrier fences of government offices on Wednesday, September 24. A police officer reacts after students in Hong Kong attach yellow ribbons to the barrier fences of government offices on Wednesday, September 24.

Students take part in a rally outside Hong Kong's government complex on Tuesday, September 23.Students take part in a rally outside Hong Kong's government complex on Tuesday, September 23.








1



2



3



4



5



6



7



8



9



10



11



12



13



14



15



16



17



18



19



20



21



22



23



24








  • NEW: Hong Kong leader says police have acted with restraint

  • Protesters asked to withdraw because of safety concerns, organizers say

  • Student organizers call for the resignations of four politicians

  • Government official says 34 people were injured and hospitalized




Are you there? Share images, but stay safe.


Hong Kong (CNN) -- After a day of tense protests in Hong Kong in which at least 34 people were injured, organizers called on tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators in the Chinese territory to head home late Sunday.


But as Sunday became early Monday, it appeared many of the protesters were set to continue to jam streets of the business district.


The sometimes violent demonstrations follow a week of student-led boycotts and protests against what many see as the encroachment of China's political will on Hong Kong's governance. They were responding to China's decision to allow only Beijing-vetted candidates to stand in the city's elections for chief executive, Hong Kong's top civil position.


One student group, fearing police might use rubber bullets, asked late Sunday for demonstrators to leave. But while the mood at the primary protest had calmed, there was no large exodus.


Not all protest leaders were calling for people to leave. Pro-democracy activist and lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, known by many as "Long Hair," cheered on those who were staying.





Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong




Hong Kong youth demanding democracy




Hong Kong democracy protest




Hong Kong students rally for democracy

"Our demands have not changed. This is a peaceful civil disobedience protest," he called out over a loudspeaker as midnight approached.


Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong and a leader of Occupy Central, was one of the organizers who called for demonstrators to disperse.


"Please go home, don't sacrifice your lives," he said to the protesters. Dialogue is impossible at this point, he told them.


At least 34 people were injured and hospitalized, the Hong Kong Information Services Department said Sunday. A spokesman gave no details on the extent of the injuries. The department earlier said six police officers were injured, but it was unclear if they were included in the 34 figure.


Several of the young people occupying the business district told CNN they were going to stay overnight.


The student-led protests, which were joined Sunday by the like-minded Occupy Central movement, have sought to occupy government property and shut down the business district.


Arrests, batons, tear gas


In an early morning video statement addressed to all Hong Kong residents, Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung called for people to leave. He said police have exercised the greatest possible restraint in dealing with the protesters.


Riot police have occasionally wielded batons against protesters. They have also used pepper spray, and tear gas has been deployed against more than one group of protesters around the Central Government Offices. There were more reports of tear gas early Monday.


Protesters wore goggles or masks and raincoats, and many held umbrellas to protect against the possible use of pepper spray.


Early Monday, dozens of protesters moved barricades to block a main thoroughfare.


Demonstrators also have occupied the upscale Pacific Place shopping mall, located near the main protest site, organizers said Sunday evening. They said the number of protesters continues to grow.


The number of police officers at the protests also grew.


There is an "optimal amount of police officers dispersed" around the scene, a Hong Kong police spokesperson told CNN.


Police said they have arrested 78 people, ranging in age from 16 to 58, including some leaders.


Yvonne Leung, the spokeswoman for the Hong Kong Federation of Students, which organized the protest, said high school student protest leader Joshua Wong was released Sunday.


Meet the 17-year-old preparing for Hong Kong's battle for democracy


The group later tweeted that Alex Chow and Lester Shum, who were arrested Saturday, also had been released.


In a statement Sunday evening, Yvonne Leung said the protesters called for C.Y. Leung and three other politicians working on political reform to resign. If the demand, and three others, go unmet, the students vowed to step up their protests and will boycott school.


The previous week had seen days of action, as university and high school students came out in droves to rally against what they believe is the Chinese central government's reneging on key promises for Hong Kong's political future.


Government response


C.Y. Leung said at a news conference Sunday afternoon that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is "resolute in opposing the unlawful occupation" of the government buildings.


"The police are determined to handle the situation appropriately in accordance with the law," he said.


C.Y. Leung, who was addressing the protesters for the first time, urged Hong Kong's residents to express their dissatisfaction with the political process in a safe and lawful manner.


He said that a round of consultations on electoral reform will take place "shortly" but went on to appeal to pro-democracy activists to engage in rational discussions through lawful means "so as to allow the more than 5 million eligible voters in Hong Kong to elect the chief executive in 2017 for the first time in Hong Kong's history by one person, one vote." He reaffirmed that the government in Hong Kong will uphold Beijing's decision.


The Chinese central government said that it is "confident" that the Hong Kong government can handle the movement lawfully, according to a report in Chinese state media. The Chinese government opposes all illegal activities that "could undermine rule of law and jeopardize 'social tranquility,'" the report says.


Student protesters joined


The movement developed into a much larger, more inclusive display of defiance as the Occupy Central movement joined the students' rally early Sunday.


The pro-democracy advocacy group, which is not affiliated with the broader anti-capitalist Occupy movement, has been vowing to lead a campaign of civil disobedience in the face of China's decision to control what candidates can run for Hong Kong's top office.


"Occupy Central has formally begun," said a statement by the group. "The two nights of occupation of Civic Square in Admiralty have completely embodied the awakening of Hong Kong people's desire to decide their own lives.


"The courage of the students and members of the public in their spontaneous decision to stay has touched many Hong Kong people. Yet, the government has remained unmoved. As the wheel of time has reached this point, we have decided to arise and act."


Hong Kong protests: What you need to know


Government: Fears are 'unfounded'


C.Y. Leung, the city's chief executive, told CNN that fears that the nominating process for the 2017 election were too restrictive were "unfounded."


"We have not even started to discuss the detailed but crucial aspects of the nominating process for potential chief executive candidates," he wrote in an exclusive commentary.


"This will be the subject of a public consultation to be launched soon and which will eventually lead to the enabling legislation on changes to the electoral method for the 2017 election."


Hong Kong chief executive: Raw emotion 'will get us nowhere'


Core group of protesters isolated


The three entrances to Civic Square, which houses a core group of protesters, were blocked off by steel barricades and guarded by around 100 police officers.


A protest leader, over a public address system, told the crowd that since the police claim the gathering is an unlawful assembly, supplies including water and audio equipment won't be allowed into the sealed-off protest area. Supplies, the voice on the microphone said, were also confiscated by the police.


Demonstrators claimed that undercover officers had joined the main protest group, and others said they had seen police preparing water cannon.


Many in the city, which under British rule enjoyed considerable political freedom, fear a rollback of the city's political autonomy, agreed between Britain and China under the Basic Law. The Basic Law, which serves as a de facto constitution, was written in the lead-up to the 1997 handover of sovereignty.


CNN's Esther Pang, Vivian Kam and Euan McKirdy contributed to this report.









Source: Top Stories - Google News - http://ift.tt/1ntsoK7

0 comments:

Post a Comment