100 police scuffle with anti-Tung protesters
The chief executive's latest meet-the-people event descends into chaos as activists block the road
More than 100 police scuffled with a group of protesters shortly before Hong Kong's chief executive was due to meet 200 district councillors and committee leaders yesterday.
The clash happened just after 4pm when about 20 protesters from the Anti-Tung Solidarity coalition, including April Fifth Action Group members Leung Kwok-hung and Koo Sze-yiu, tried to push their way through police guarding the entrance to Tsuen Wan Town Hall.
They were protesting against the government's move to cut welfare benefits.
Chaos broke out when the protesters, carrying a banner and chanting slogans calling for Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to step down, refused to respond to a call by police for them to co-operate. They made several attempts to break through a barrier formed by about 40 officers.
Outside another entrance to the town hall, about 100 protesters from the Democratic Party and Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong joined the protests. Their demands ranged from the introduction of universal suffrage to elect the chief executive and the legislature, cancellation of the $18 land departure tax and the reduction of public housing rents.
After an hour the protesters moved towards the entrance of the town hall car park. They refused to respond to repeated calls by police for them to clear the road.
Shortly before Mr Tung arrived at 5.30pm, about six protesters sat down in the middle of the road and struggled with police who tried to move them. They were eventually removed by more than 40 officers.
Mr Leung lay sprawled on the bonnet of Mr Tung's car before being carried away by the police.
At one point, a protester lay on the ground trying to block Mr Tung's car but police formed a human shield around the vehicle. The number of police at the scene had increased to 100 by this time.
Chants of 'Down with Mr Tung' could be heard inside the hall, but the chief executive put on a brave face and invited those present to point out his shortcomings and those of his administration.
Kwai Tsing District Councillor Leung Kwong-cheong said that during his fourth meet-the-people session Mr Tung had suddenly asked whether anyone was planning to protest against him. The district councillor, who is an executive committee member of Anti-Tung Solidarity, raised his hand but said Mr Tung did not respond.
A police spokesman said nobody was arrested in the scuffles.
Mr Tung said after the meeting that some people who disregarded the rules outside the venue had prevented him from talking to protesters and receiving petitions.
