Hong Kong protesters clash with anti-Occupy crowds

World Today

The student-led protests began last month with no resolution yet despite talks between students and the Hong Kong government. Meanwhile yet another group, residents in the city, are feeling protest exhaustion. CCTV America’s Han Peng, reports from Hong Kong.

Huge crowds of people gather peacefully to voice their opposition to the continued student demonstrations in a public park in Hong Kong. They are holding posters, which say they are “heartbroken” to see Hong Kong’s declining law and order.

They carry electric torches to represent their hope that there is a way out of the current deadlock. Many rail against the traffic blockades and urge police to clear the roads.

But there are also pro-Occupy Central students who have come to the rally to hear their arguments. During the day, fierce arguments sometimes break out between the protesting students and those affected by their demonstrations.

On Wednesday, a group of taxi drivers, fed up with the choked traffic and the decline in business, began to remove barricades set up by pro-Occupy Central protesters at Mong Kok. They said they were following orders from the court. Hong Kong’s High Court had indeed granted an injunction order on Monday, barring protesters from occupying parts of Mong Kok, but it went largely ignored.

The taxi drivers’ attempt to clear the barricades prompted clashes with pro-Occupy protesters. Police had to step in and break them up. With both sides deeply entrenched and able to rally huge crowds, Hong Kong appears increasingly divided.