Hong Kong Protesters Attacked at Pro-Democracy Protests
Oct. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Bloombergs Andrew Davis reports on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong as scuffles begin to break out between protesters and their opponents. He speaks on Bloomberg Surveillance.
Hong Kongs pro-democracy demonstrators came under assault at two protest sites in the city as hundreds of men tussled with students, shouted abuse and removed barricades.
Protest leader Benny Tai urged activists to leave Mong Kok, saying lives could be at risk. In Causeway Bay, where more confrontations took place, a group trying to reclaim a main road described themselves as ordinary citizens.
Slideshow: Hong Kong's Democracy Standoff
The violence forced protesters to leave swathes of the city they had occupied for the past week, with police escorting some students past angry crowds shouting abuse in Mong Kok. Protest leaders said they will cancel planned talks with the government unless the police halt what they called organized attacks.
Hong Kongs Autonomy
We see that violent thugs are maliciously attacking demonstrators, said Tai, founder of the Occupy Central With Love and Peace group. We urge citizens who are participating in the Occupy movement to leave Mong Kok immediately and come to rally in Admiralty, so that we can support each other.
Causeway Bay and Mong Kok -- a working-class area across the harbor in Kowloon -- are popular shopping districts. The centrally located Admiralty has been the biggest stronghold for the activists, who have surrounded the government headquarters there.
The pro-democracy demonstrations have paralyzed parts of central Hong Kong this week, and affected sales at retailers including Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd., as well as the takings of bars, restaurants and cab drivers. Demonstrators want public nomination of candidates for the 2017 leadership contest, and the resignation of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.
If I see those people wearing yellow ribbon, I will crush them, said Lee, one of the men at Mong Kok shouting at the students to leave. Everyone is affected by this inconvenience. Our police are too tolerant.
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Hong Kong Protesters Attacked at Pro-Democracy Protests