UMBRELLA MOVEMENT DAY 65

Violent clashes between protesters and police as students admit failure over CGO siege

Monday 1 December 2014

Recap by Roydon Ng (www.roydonng.net/blog) FB: Roydon Ng Twitter: @RoydonNg

After a night of violent clashes between protesters and police around the Central Government Offices in Admiralty, both sides appear to be fatigued but are remaining persistent as they stand off on the streets.

Police have moved in on Tamar Park clearing protesters and tents from the area. Officers charged at protesters after projectiles including water bottles and umbrellas were hurled at the police line.

Protesters around Umbrella Square and the main stage under the Admiralty footbridge have began blockading the escalators on the side of the footbridge in an attempt to prevent police from gaining access to the site to perform a clearance. Police have also removed a number of banners hanging from the Admiralty footbridge as part of the operation.

Clashes have broken out between protesters and police at the entrance of the Admiralty MTR station with protesters chanting at police to ‘drop your batons’. Several protesters are injured in the clashes are quickly moved to first aid stations in the Admiralty protest zone outside the MTR station.

A small fire has broken out at the People’s Liberation Army barrack’s resident building. Firefighters attend to the location. The fire is not related to the ongoing protests.

Leung Chun-ying, Chief Executive has stated that the police’s tolerance is not a sign of weakness and that the Beijing and he are sincere about bringing elections to Hong Kong in 2017. John Tsang, Financial Secretary says the students’ calls to occupy Tamar are irresponsible and has warned of long-term damage.

The Chinese government has defended its decision to bar a number of British MPs from entering Hong Kong affirming its sovereignty and right to decide who enters the territory. This comes as an emergency debate is held in the British parliament regarding Beijing’s decision to prohibit several of its MPs from entering Hong Kong.

A police officer has reportedly committed suicide inside the Hung Hum police station.

Ronny Tong a moderate pro-democracy legislator has said that police and protesters should stop pointing fingers and condemning each other and should focus on building consensus for political reform.

Alex Chow, student protest leader with Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) has expressed his disappointment at last night’s protest actions saying that although the escalation and siege of the Central Government Offices lasted until the morning it failed to disrupt government operations. The Central Government Offices were reopened in the afternoon after the police launched a crackdown on protesters in the early hours of Monday.

Division between the protest groups are also growing with a number of protesters upset at some pro-democracy factions for a lack of front-line involvement in the standoff and clashes with police.
Umbrella Movement Day 64
Students announce escalation of Occupy protests putting press on the government
Sunday 30 November 2014
Recap by Roydon Ng (www.roydonng.net/blog) FB: Roydon Ng Twitter: @RoydonNg

Police have condemned the actions of the Mongkok protesters accusing them of disorderly conduct. At least 2 police officers were injured when hit with projectiles.

The protest in Mongkok has gradually decreased although around 2,000 officers and a similar number of protesters remain on the streets around Nathan Road. A proportion of protesters have retreated after another ‘shopping night’ in Mongkok.

Thousands have gathered at Admiralty’s main stage for the Hong Kong Federation of Student’s major announcement at 18:00 Hong Kong time. Police have also taken up positions around the Central Government Offices and the Legislative Council buildings.

Oscar Lai, a student leader with Scholarism has reiterated the keys points of a peaceful protest, non-aggression towards police and urged for calm as well as people to stay safe.

Nathan Law, a student leader with HKFS has called on the protesters to remain in Admiralty after the rally and surround the Central Government Office buildings. He furthers calls for the protest to be peaceful and denounces attempts to make Hong Kong into a police state.

Large crowds are gathering around the Tim Mei Ave and Lung Wui Road roundabout as part of the escalation called on by the student protesters. Police have readied specialist units and water canons in response to protesters.

Clashes between protesters and police break out around Tamar Park and the Lung Wo Road tunnel as the crowds attempt to push towards the Chief Executive’s office. A number of arrests are made as officers threaten the use of force if the crowds continue to push forward.

Estimates suggest that there are around 2,000 thousand tents in Admiralty. By early Monday morning (03:00 Hong Kong time) the number of police officers in Mongkok stands at 2,000.

Nearly 4,500 officers including specialist units are on active duty around Hong Kong Island.

Protesters wearing hard hats are now facing officers separated by metal barricades. Police continue to hold their line outsider the government buildings as police dogs bark at the crowds. Water cannon is also used but to minimal effect as the wind blows the water in a different direction.

The Chinese government has denied a number of British MPs entry to Hong Kong. Sir Richard Ottoway, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, accused the Chinese authorities of acting in an “overtly confrontational manner”.

A memo was issued to government office staff not to go to work as the Central Government Offices remain occupied into the morning.