Hong Kong: Tear gas and clashes at democracy protest (Occupy Central)

[Tho_mas]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-29398962

Demonstrators trying to push through police barricades were earlier repelled by pepper spray.

Protesters want the Chinese government to scrap rules allowing it to vet Hong Kong's top leader in the 2017 poll.

Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said the demonstration was "illegal" and elections would go ahead as planned.

In his first public statement since the protests began, Mr Leung also added that consultations would continue.

He said he and his government had "been listening attentively to members of [the] public". But, he said, "resolute" action would be taken against the "illegal demonstration".

Protesters blocked a busy road on Sunday, clashing with police as they tried to join a mass sit-in outside government headquarters.

Police used hand-held cans of pepper spray to drive back the protesters, who defended themselves with umbrellas and face masks.

As evening fell, the police lobbed tear gas canisters into the crowd, scattering some of the protesters.

Thousands joined a sit-in outside government headquarters this weekend, bolstering a week-old protest, which began as a strike by students calling for democratic reforms.

On Saturday night, the leader of Occupy Central, another protest movement, brought forward a planned action to merge it with the sit-in by the students outside the central government building.

A statement by the movement said Mr Leung had "failed to deliver on political reform".





Angered the people, falling the government.

[TiMoN]

plot twist: why is that cop holding a hair brush

[Mikal]

Should've stayed with Britain if they wanted democracy..

plot twist: why is that cop holding a hair brush

It's a flame thrower st00pid.

[PulseEffect]

This is quite the last stand from HK Citizens before their immunity is taken away from them in 40 years. #SaveHKfromtheCCP

[[WS]Jacob]

I ask that users are respectful to others who are commenting. This will be a final warning.

[PulseEffect]

Should've stayed with Britain if they wanted democracy..

False, Britain signed away Hong Kong to China during British PM Thatcher's visit during 1982 (Although I can't quite fault her, as it was a 100 year agreement between Britain and China). HK itself has had NO say in it's own self determination.

[Mikal]

Sorry Britain signed away Hong Kong to China during British PM Thatcher's visit during 1982 (Although I can't quite fault her, as it was a 100 year agreement between Britain and China). HK itself has had NO say in it's own self determination.

To my understanding Britain arrived at Hong Kong without permission and just starting building trading ports during the height of the British Empire, Britain controlled Hong Kong for 55 years before signing a contract with China who obviously didn't want Britain there in the first place, Britain controlled Hong Kong for a full 155 years before handing it back to China as the contract required, I bet if it was up to the people of Hong Kong they would have chosen to remain as a British overseas territory with their own democratic self governing, much like the Falklands and many other British overseas territories.

Protesters in Hong Kong have been known to use/'fly' the British-Hong Kong ensign during other occasions/protests to show their disloyalty to China, who of course just wants complete and utter control of Hong Kong giving it's people no say in it of it's own affairs, what Hong Kong needs is a major uprising against China, or they'll always be under the palm of it's hand, though of course being China they'd probably just march the military right on in there and have every protester arrested and executed for going against the state..

[PulseEffect]

To my understanding Britain arrived at Hong Kong without permission and just starting building trading ports during the height of the British Empire, Britain controlled Hong Kong for 55 years before signing a contract with China who obviously didn't want Britain there in the first place, Britain controlled Hong Kong for a full 155 years before handing it back to China as the contract required, I bet if it was up to the people of Hong Kong they would have chosen to remain as a British overseas territory with their own democratic self governing, much like the Falklands and many other British overseas territories.

China was basically bullied into going into the Opium Wars and as a result gave HK over to Britain and Macau to Portugal. Those "contracts" were only government agreements, they weren't people decided referendums like the Falklands and much recently Scotland. And I can clearly understand why normal HK people want to go back to British Rule but they have had no say in it in the first place nor do they have any say at the moment.

[EliteTerm]

There will be another Tiananmen Square soon, just wait.

I applaud their intentions, but it will get ugly real fast.. hope they're up to the challenge and keep pushing forward.

[albertlau128]

There will be another Tiananmen Square soon, just wait.

I applaud their intentions, but it will get ugly real fast.. hope they're up to the challenge and keep pushing forward.

All I can say is NO. As a Hong Konger, I am really shameful indeed just because of "Occupying Central". It is illegal, but indeed I support "universal suffrage" but their actions are not really satisfactory. Look at those videos on BBC news or CNN, police were being insulted and they are doing their job while people shout at them and say bs. Occupying Central, in addition caused a massive traffic disturbance in Northern Hong Kong Island, causing the Educational Department to suspend schools in Wan Chai and Central Western District. Now what's the point of using some illegal methods to protest for what you/they want? It's a matter of fact that they ruined our name of a peaceful city, and make this into a great chaos.
#SupportHKPF
#UniversalSuffrage

P.S. If you do not like it, this is my view, you can comment on this but refrain from attacking me, ty.

[Mikal]

China was basically bullied into going into the Opium Wars and as a result gave HK over to Britain and Macau to Portugal. Those "contracts" were only government agreements, they weren't people decided referendums like the Falklands and much recently Scotland. And I can clearly understand why normal HK people want to go back to British Rule but they have had no say in it in the first place nor do they have any say at the moment.

Yes, but the British Empire was in Hong Kong for 55 years before the contract even existed and Hong Kong had nowhere near the population is does now, it was the British that set the foundries that modern Hong Kong is built on, you can hardly say that Britain owning Hong Kong wasn't democratic, there wasn't any point in there being a democratic referendum considering Hong Kong's population was tiny and probably didn't really care wether Britain ran their country of not, if you look at Hong Kong today, Britain's trade really paid off for them.

Anyway, does China really want to go against this many people?:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-29421914
"Hong Kong protest: Drone captures scale of protest"

[albertlau128]

Anyway, does China really want to go against this many people?:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-29421914
"Hong Kong protest: Drone captures scale of protest"

Scale doesn't really matter in the eye of China? Well... Think again, China has a population of 1.3 billion

[Mikal]

Scale doesn't really matter in the eye of China? Well... Think again, China has a population of 1.3 billion

1.3billion which are being fed lies by government media.

[Mikal]

It's kicking off in Hong Kong.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-29672083

[Tho_mas]

So actually I am one of the students in those suspended schools and I am suffering from the heavy traffic jam everyday morning on Bonham Road. (<- Only road that can pass Admiralty few days before)

I need to wake up everyday half hour earlier, and that's what I feel, annoying. But I wont really get angered to those troubles cause by the movement. I admit that I am not as brave as the protester who take their time, and their life in fighting the future, I won't sacrifice myself in the future of HK democracy, I will stay at home, support them from my true heart.

I can see both the police and protester are both losing their patience, the main problem was created by the bs government. Both police and protester do not have any fault.

Words from my heart as a Hongkonger.