News Digest

Hong Kong street clashes continue despite imminent talks

Pro-democracy activists have accused police of using excessive force against protesters after violent clashes in Hong Kong. Dozens of police with shields and helmets pushed into a crowd of demonstrators gathered at barricades in the Mongkok district early Sunday, striking at them repeatedly with batons. Twenty people were injured in a fourth night of violence after three weeks of largely peaceful pro-democracy rallies and road blockades in three busy districts. Some demonstrators were carried away on stretchers and others treated for head wounds, fractures and bruising.

We believe police have violated the principle of using minimum force to deal with peaceful demonstration.

James Hon, of protest group the League in Defence of Hong Kong’s Freedom

Hong Kong’s government had confirmed earlier Saturday that it would open talks with student leaders on Tuesday. The city’s deputy leader Carrie Lam told reporters the talks would be focused on constitutional reform, with both sides allowed to bring five members to the meeting. But the government is unlikely to yield to protesters’ core demands – the resignation of Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying and free leadership elections for the city in 2017. Finance secretary John Tsang said Sunday the protests had reached a “critical moment” and urged the demonstrators to retreat.

I was young before and I have taken part in various student movements. Retreating is not an easy decision. It takes a lot of bravery. I still believe that you can take the courage to make right decisions at this critical moment.

Finance secretary John Tsang