HONG KONG, (Reuters) – Thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists clashed with police last night as they tried to encircle government headquarters, defying orders from authorities to retreat after more than two months of demonstrations.
Chaos erupted as commuters made their way to work, with hundreds of protesters surrounding Admiralty Centre, which houses offices and retail outlets, in a tense stand-off with police. Many shops remained shut by mid-morning.
The latest flare-up blocked access to key roads and government offices were closed on Monday morning.
Riot police armed with batons and pepper spray had earlier charged protesters, forcing them off one road near government offices. Police had cleared that area more than a month ago during some of the most violent scenes since the demonstrations began in late September.
The democracy movement represents one of the biggest threats for China’s Communist Party leadership since its bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy student protests in and around Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
On Monday, crowds chanting “Surround government headquarters!” and “Open the road!”, made their way to the buildings in Admiralty, next to Hong Kong’s central business district and some of the world’s most expensive real estate.
“I urge everyone to stay here until the morning to keep surrounding the government headquarters. Let’s stop the government from functioning tomorrow,” a protester clad in a black T-shirt shouted into a loud hailer.
Scores of protesters with wooden shields and metal barricades charged police as officers warned them to retreat. Police, who have been accused of using excessive force, struck demonstrators with batons in a bid to push them back.
