Hong Kong protesters clash with police in Mong Kok
Protesters resist as riot police start pushing through makeshift barriers to move some of them into another area
By Benjamin Garvey
HONG KONG
Chaos erupted again at a major Hong Kong protest site early Sunday when police attempted to move some protesters into another area, media reports said and live television broadcasts showed.
Hundreds of armed riot police started pushing through makeshift barriers in Mong Kok around midnight local time. They were met with resistance from a large number of demonstrators.
Police were then forced to retreat back to their original location at the junction of Argyle Street and Nathan Road.
The scuffles are continuing.
The violent scenes come after similar clashes the previous day, which were condemned by Police Commissioner Andy Tsang.
Criticizing protesters who he accused of having charged a police cordon and illegally occupied major thoroughfares, Tsang said in a press release, "Such behaviors are neither peaceful nor non-violent. They seriously undermined public order and seriously jeopardized public safety.”
Police said 26 people were arrested early Saturday.
Later that day, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam announced that talks with student leaders on political reform were scheduled to take place Tuesday.
“The government’s work on political reform has to be based on the Basic Law and the national legislature’s decision. I’m happy to listen to other opinions based on this foundation,” the South China Morning Post quoted her as saying.
Protesters have been trying to reclaim the streets after police moved in to clear tents and barricades early Friday.
Mong Kok had been the site of scuffles between protesters and opposition groups during the almost three weeks of rallies.
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