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Hong Kong Tensions Spike as China Issues Ominous Warnings
Police warn of "serious consequences" if demonstrators occupy government buildings
Oct 02, 2014
Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying refused to resign in a midnight press conference Thursday, saying the chief secretary of the territory, Carrie Lam, would open a dialogue with student leaders as soon as possible.
As a midnight deadline approached, tensions were pitched in Hong Kong, where a large and growing crowd of "Umbrella Revolution" protesters gathered around the main government offices. Activists had previously said they would occupy government buildings if their demands were not met.
Meanwhile, police officers were reportedly seen carrying containers of rubber bullets, tear gas and other riot-control gear into the buildings and authorities warned of "chaos" and "serious consequences" if protesters indeed tried to enter the complex.
Demonstrations have intensified all week, with protesters--led in large part by students--calling for free elections in Hong Kong, which has operated with more personal freedoms than the rest of China after the former British colony was turned over to China in 1997.
Follow the developments here:
Tweets about "#Umbrellarevolution OR #HongKong OR #HongKongProtests"
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Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying refused to resign in a midnight press conference Thursday, saying the chief secretary of the territory, Carrie Lam, would open a dialogue with student leaders as soon as possible.
As a midnight deadline approached, tensions were pitched in Hong Kong, where a large and growing crowd of "Umbrella Revolution" protesters gathered around the main government offices. Activists had previously said they would occupy government buildings if their demands were not met.
Meanwhile, police officers were reportedly seen carrying containers of rubber bullets, tear gas and other riot-control gear into the buildings and authorities warned of "chaos" and "serious consequences" if protesters indeed tried to enter the complex.
Demonstrations have intensified all week, with protesters--led in large part by students--calling for free elections in Hong Kong, which has operated with more personal freedoms than the rest of China after the former British colony was turned over to China in 1997.
Follow the developments here:
Tweets about "#Umbrellarevolution OR #HongKong OR #HongKongProtests"
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying refused to resign in a midnight press conference Thursday, saying the chief secretary of the territory, Carrie Lam, would open a dialogue with student leaders as soon as possible.
As a midnight deadline approached, tensions were pitched in Hong Kong, where a large and growing crowd of "Umbrella Revolution" protesters gathered around the main government offices. Activists had previously said they would occupy government buildings if their demands were not met.
Meanwhile, police officers were reportedly seen carrying containers of rubber bullets, tear gas and other riot-control gear into the buildings and authorities warned of "chaos" and "serious consequences" if protesters indeed tried to enter the complex.
Demonstrations have intensified all week, with protesters--led in large part by students--calling for free elections in Hong Kong, which has operated with more personal freedoms than the rest of China after the former British colony was turned over to China in 1997.
Follow the developments here:
Tweets about "#Umbrellarevolution OR #HongKong OR #HongKongProtests"
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