Students urged to abandon plan to escalate democracy campaign
The government won't be paralysed, minister says, as others fear violence and bloodshed
Officials and pro-establishment politicians had urged student leaders not to escalate their campaign for democracy ahead of last night's mayhem in Admiralty, with one stressing that the government would continue to function even under siege.
"There have been occasions when large numbers of people have gathered around the government headquarters," Transport and Housing Secretary Anthony Cheung Bing-leung said. "But the government used all possible means to keep the offices operating as normal."
Cheung was speaking hours before student leaders announced at 9pm in Admiralty that the campaign would be escalated. Federation of Students representative Nathan Law Kwun-chung told the crowd to head for government headquarters, and police used pepper spray and batons on protesters in the ensuing clashes.
Earlier in the day, Education Secretary Eddie Ng Hak-kim urged the students to abandon their plan for escalation. Ng said: "I am worried that the situation could … spin out of control, so I hope they stop."
Food and Health Secretary Dr Ko Wing-man was concerned that people could get hurt, and if a number of people were taken to hospital at the same time it could put a strain on services at public hospital emergency rooms.
But he disagreed with Cheung on the impact of a potential blockade on government headquarters. Ko said: "I can tell the public for sure that [a siege] will definitely affect our efficiency."