HK cops bring in rubber bullets

Protesters try to block an avenue outside the offices of Hong Kong’s chief executive Leung Chun-ying.

AFP/Hong Kong

Crowds of protesters in Hong Kong swelled yesterday after police were seen unloading boxes of tear gas and rubber bullets, sending tensions soaring as authorities urged pro-democracy demonstrators to disperse “as soon as possible”.

As thousands massed outside the city’s government headquarters for a fifth consecutive night, police issued a warning that any attempt to charge police lines or occupy government property would be met “with resolute enforcement actions”.

Huge throngs have shut down central areas of the southern Chinese city with a mass sit-in, including outside the city’s legislative assembly, and have given Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying until midnight to step down or face escalated action.

Students were debating whether or not to fully occupy Lung Wo Road, one of the few remaining carriageways around the government complex still open to traffic if the deadline passed without a response, an AFP reporter said.

Days of peaceful demonstrations have seen tens of thousands of people take over the city’s usually traffic-heavy streets as they demand Beijing grant fully free elections in the semi-autonomous city.

In August, China said Hong Kongers would be able to vote for their next leader in 2017 but only those vetted by a loyalist committee would be allowed to stand - something demonstrators have dismissed as a “fake democracy”.

China backed Leung yesterday, saying it was behind him “firmly and unshakably” and pledging support for the police as protesters prepared for a fifth night at the barricades.

Police warned protesters not to rush their cordons or attempt to break into the besieged government offices.

“If they (protesters) refuse to comply with police advice and warnings, police will take resolute enforcement actions,” the said in a statement.

The late afternoon resupply by police officers outside the government headquarters caused widespread alarm and anger among protesters, but more demonstrators arrived on the scene regardless after an appeal from leaders.

Pictures shared widely on social media and television showed one barrel with the words “Round, 38mm rubber baton multi” written on it. Another had “1.5 in, CS” emblazoned on it, a possible reference to tear gas.

“The more people are here, the safer we are,” Heiman Chan, 25, told AFP, adding he rushed down to the main protest site after seeing photos of the rubber bullet barrels on Facebook.

“We’re not going to leave this space for anything. If they use tear gas we’ll run back and hold a new area, if they use rubber bullets we’ll have to run a little faster,” he added.

Some of those in the crowd wanted to block one of the last trunk roads still open in the area while others were concerned it could provoke violent action from the police.

“The point is to start a dialogue on political reform, not fight police,” Ares Tse told AFP, in reference to the area that has become the epicentre of the protests.

China’s Communist Party has shown no sign of bowing to protesters’ twin demands that Leung step down and Beijing allow Hong Kongers to nominate their next leader.

An editorial in the Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily yesterday warned against “chaos” in the city, adding Beijing supported “the police of the special territory in handling these illegal protests according to the law”.

Beijing’s latest comments came after China’s foreign minister issued a stern warning to the US not to meddle in its “internal affairs”.

“We will consider having different operating actions in future days, including occupying other places like important government offices,” said Agnes Chow of student movement Scholarism.

In a movement being dubbed the “umbrella revolution” - a nod to the umbrellas they have used to protect themselves against pepper spray, the sun and torrential downpours alike - the protesters have brought key parts of the city to a standstill, heavily disrupting the transport network and shutting down businesses.

The protests pose a huge political challenge for Beijing at a time when the Communist Party is cracking down hard on dissent on the mainland.

Authorities have scrubbed mentions of the protests from Chinese social media, while rights groups say more than a dozen activists have been detained and as many as 60 others questioned for expressing support for the Hong Kong crowds.

Leader insists he will not step down

Hong Kong’s leader, Leung Chun-ying, yesterday told pro-democracy protesters that he had no intention of stepping down, and warned them that the consequences of occupying government buildings would be serious.

Leung, speaking just minutes before an ultimatum for him to resign expired, also said that chief secretary Carrie Lam would hold a meeting with students soon to discuss political reforms. He gave no specific time frame. “I won’t resign because I must carry out the universal suffrage work,” said Leung, referring to electoral reforms in the former British colony.

Leung appealed to the protesters to exercise restraint.  “In any place in the world, if there are any protesters that surround, attack, or occupy government buildings like police headquarters, or the chief executive’s office ... the consequences are serious,” he said.

Many protesters were dissatisfied and said his comments were not enough. “I don’t think this is sufficient. I think he’s trying to slow down the process and make us go home ... (but) people are feeling tired, mentally and physically and the numbers may decrease,” said Nicholas Chan, 20, a journalism student at Chinese University. “The bargaining power is in the numbers.”