News Digest

HK police clear protest barricades in surprise raid as students agree to talks

Hundreds of Hong Kong police staged a dawn raid on Friday on one of the key sites occupied by pro-democracy protesters, removing barricades from roads and clearing out most of the demonstrators in another setback for their movement. The operation in the gritty working class area of Mong Kok, across the harbour from the main demonstration zone near the office of Hong Kong’s leader, came while many protesters were asleep in their tents. It further reduces the number of protest sites that have paralysed parts of the Asian financial hub over the past three weeks. Police encountered little resistance, unlike recent days when there has been violent clashes during operations to clear other major roads. No arrests were made, said Barry Smith, a police chief superintendent on the scene, describing the operation as “fairly peaceful”.

They’ve been occupying this whole area now for almost three weeks and so we decided it’s time to give the public the right of way, to get the roads back and get access to pedestrians.

Police chief superintendent Barry Smith

The raid came just days after hundreds of police used sledgehammers and chainsaws to tear down barricades erected by protesters to reopen a major road leading in the Central business district. A sea of colourful tents remains on a separate thoroughfare in the area, close to chief executive Leung Chun-ying’s office. Meanwhile, Alex Chow, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, told reporters late yesterday that while protesters are willing to negotiate, they will continue occupying parts of the city.

We are willing to talk but the government of C.Y. Leung should not say they want to talk and also clear the sites. I don’t know what trick the government plans to use, but we are not afraid and will keep fighting for democracy.

Alex Chow