HONG KONG — Demonstrators and the Hong Kong police prepared for a showdown on Thursday, after the police cleared part of the city’s last major pro-democracy protest camp and warned the crowd in the rest of the area to leave quickly or face arrest.
The warning from the police, which came after officers had encircled and sealed off the large camp in the Admiralty district near government headquarters, rang out through loudspeakers across the site, and protesters who were determined to defy the warning responded with jeers and shouts.
Hundreds of police officers began moving slowly into the encampment from two directions, clearing away tents and other material.
The developments came several hours into a long-expected police operation to effectively end the street demonstrations that have encircled the political heart of Hong Kong for more than 10 weeks, laying bare the divisions over the city’s political future.
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Earlier Thursday, the police had without incident cleared away barricades from a small part of the Admiralty protest camp that was covered by a court injunction. But demonstrators had already essentially abandoned that area, and it was far from clear whether the clearance of the entire camp, a sprawling conglomeration of tents, protest art and improvised construction, would proceed as smoothly.
While the protests calling for fully democratic elections have mostly been peaceful, demonstrators and the police have at times clashed during the past 10 weeks.
Police officers had told the crowd that checkpoints would be set up and anyone left in the area would have their identity cards inspected for possible legal action later. A senior police superintendent, Kwok Pak-chung, warned protesters at a brief news conference that “if you refuse to leave, police will take action to disperse or arrest.”
Among those staying in the street was Cyrena Leung, a university student who said she had slept at the demonstrations for the past two months. “I am afraid that I’ll get arrested, but I feel I need to stand firm until the very end,” she said. “My goal is to fight for true universal suffrage — if everyone were scared, there would be no occupation movement here.”
She added, “The more people there are here, the safer it will be for everyone.”
The protesters who ignored the police warnings to leave included clusters of young men and women in the by-now-familiar garb of frontline activists: safety and motorcycle helmets, masks, elbow and knee protectors, and sometimes plastic shields. Some said they would not court confrontation with the police but were prepared for it.
“Experience shows the police have used violence, so we have to be prepared,” said one protester wearing a motorcycle helmet, a teacher who gave only his surname, Chu. “We can’t predict how heavily the police will use force, but we’re ready to protect ourselves.”
“We’ll stay as long as we can but don’t want to get caught,” said Arki Cheng, a social worker in his 20s who was looking for somewhere safe to store his tent and other belongings. “As long as we have enough people, I’m not so afraid,” he said. “It’s important to show that even if we leave, it is with resistance.” But other people scurried to leave, arms full of belongings.
In Tamar Park, a grassy expanse beside the government buildings, medical volunteers had set up four first aid tents, in case people were injured in the impending clearance. “We’re most of all prepared for pepper spray,” said a medical student at one of the tents, who gave only her surname, Wu.
While the protests calling for fully democratic elections have mostly been peaceful, demonstrators and the police have at times clashed during the past 10 weeks.
Police officers had told the crowd that checkpoints would be set up and anyone left in the area would have their identity cards inspected for possible legal action later. A senior police superintendent, Kwok Pak-chung, warned protesters at a brief news conference that “if you refuse to leave, police will take action to disperse or arrest.”
Among those staying in the street was Cyrena Leung, a university student who said she had slept at the demonstrations for the past two months. “I am afraid that I’ll get arrested, but I feel I need to stand firm until the very end,” she said. “My goal is to fight for true universal suffrage — if everyone were scared, there would be no occupation movement here.”
She added, “The more people there are here, the safer it will be for everyone.”
The protesters who ignored the police warnings to leave included clusters of young men and women in the by-now-familiar garb of frontline activists: safety and motorcycle helmets, masks, elbow and knee protectors, and sometimes plastic shields. Some said they would not court confrontation with the police but were prepared for it.
“Experience shows the police have used violence, so we have to be prepared,” said one protester wearing a motorcycle helmet, a teacher who gave only his surname, Chu. “We can’t predict how heavily the police will use force, but we’re ready to protect ourselves.”
“We’ll stay as long as we can but don’t want to get caught,” said Arki Cheng, a social worker in his 20s who was looking for somewhere safe to store his tent and other belongings. “As long as we have enough people, I’m not so afraid,” he said. “It’s important to show that even if we leave, it is with resistance.” But other people scurried to leave, arms full of belongings.
In Tamar Park, a grassy expanse beside the government buildings, medical volunteers had set up four first aid tents, in case people were injured in the impending clearance. “We’re most of all prepared for pepper spray,” said a medical student at one of the tents, who gave only her surname, Wu.
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