Student Protesters Clash With Police in Hong Kong Pro-democracy demonstrators clash with police as they storm Hong Kong government headquarters in protest against the Chinese government's tightening grip on the former British colony. Hong Kong riot police use pepper spray to clear democracy protesters from government compound ahead of planned sit-in over elections Riot police have clashed with protesters in Hong Kong after activists stormed a government compound demanding free elections. Officers armed with riot shields used pepper spray to disperse the student activists after hundreds forced their way past a cordon and scaled perimeter fences around the government headquarters. Protesters have threatened to occupy the city's financial district after China attempted to limit next month's elections to a handful of candidates loyal to Beijing. Six demonstrators were arrested during the protest, including prominent activist Joshua Wong, 17, who was taken away kicking and bleeding after calling on protesters to charge. 'I don't want the fight for democracy to be passed down to the next generation. This is our responsibility.' Scuffles between the students and police continued overnight with several protesters still outside the government building this morning. Benny Tai, one of the three organizers of the movement, said: 'The police have used disproportionate force to stop the legitimate actions of the students and that should be condemned.' Several thousand protesters massed on streets outside the headquarters in support of those who had stormed inside, while police carried signs that read "stop charging or we use force". Many protesters used umbrellas to shield them from pepper spray, while others wore goggles or taped bags over their eyes to stop themselves being hit. 'I paid my highest respect to every soldier who defends till the last moment ... civil disobedience, it continues to happen,' student leader Lester Shum said on his Facebook page. Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a formula known as 'one country, two systems', with a high degree of autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China. Universal voting rights was set as an eventual goal, but has not been achieved so far. Yesterday's protest came after more than 1,000 school pupils rallied peacefully to support university students demanding democracy. The demonstrations capped a week-long campaign that has seen classroom strikes and a large cut-outs depicting the city's leader as the devil paraded in public.
9/28/2014
Student Protesters Clash With Police in Hong Kong
Student Protesters Clash With Police in Hong Kong Pro-democracy demonstrators clash with police as they storm Hong Kong government headquarters in protest against the Chinese government's tightening grip on the former British colony. Hong Kong riot police use pepper spray to clear democracy protesters from government compound ahead of planned sit-in over elections Riot police have clashed with protesters in Hong Kong after activists stormed a government compound demanding free elections. Officers armed with riot shields used pepper spray to disperse the student activists after hundreds forced their way past a cordon and scaled perimeter fences around the government headquarters. Protesters have threatened to occupy the city's financial district after China attempted to limit next month's elections to a handful of candidates loyal to Beijing. Six demonstrators were arrested during the protest, including prominent activist Joshua Wong, 17, who was taken away kicking and bleeding after calling on protesters to charge. 'I don't want the fight for democracy to be passed down to the next generation. This is our responsibility.' Scuffles between the students and police continued overnight with several protesters still outside the government building this morning. Benny Tai, one of the three organizers of the movement, said: 'The police have used disproportionate force to stop the legitimate actions of the students and that should be condemned.' Several thousand protesters massed on streets outside the headquarters in support of those who had stormed inside, while police carried signs that read "stop charging or we use force". Many protesters used umbrellas to shield them from pepper spray, while others wore goggles or taped bags over their eyes to stop themselves being hit. 'I paid my highest respect to every soldier who defends till the last moment ... civil disobedience, it continues to happen,' student leader Lester Shum said on his Facebook page. Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a formula known as 'one country, two systems', with a high degree of autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China. Universal voting rights was set as an eventual goal, but has not been achieved so far. Yesterday's protest came after more than 1,000 school pupils rallied peacefully to support university students demanding democracy. The demonstrations capped a week-long campaign that has seen classroom strikes and a large cut-outs depicting the city's leader as the devil paraded in public.
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