Update | Police arrest dozens as Hong Kong protesters storm streets in bid to reclaim Occupy camp
Protests swept Hong Kong's bustling Mong Kok area overnight after police clashed with demonstrators who attempted to reoccupy Argyle Street, a former pro-democracy camp zone.
Protests swept Hong Kong's bustling Mong Kok area overnight after police clashed with demonstrators who attempted to reoccupy Argyle Street, a former stronghold, at midnight.
As of 6am, a total of 28 protesters – aged from 16 to 52 – were arrested for various offences such as unlawful assembly, assault on police, possession of offensive weapons and disorderly conduct in a public place – during the early-hour fracas.
In a statement issued by the police this morning, the force condemned the protesters for massing in the streets in Mong Kok, with some hurling objects at the officers. The police said they had no alternative but to use “minimum force” – pepper spray and batons – to disperse and arrest the protesters.
Hundreds of people had started gathering near the junction of Argyle Street and Sai Yeung Choi South Street at around 11pm on Friday and chanted "open roads" and "I want genuine universal suffrage".
Police reinforcements, armed with helmets, shields and batons, quickly came and cordoned off the area. Through loudspeakers, officers appealed to the crowd to disperse or else face arrest.