Calls for protesters to restore social order
Print Edition
THE High Court in Hong Kong yesterday granted a pair of injunctions banning demonstrators from occupying roads in Mong Kok.
The first came after groups of minibus and taxi operators filed for an injunction that would reopen paralyzed roads in the district occupied by protesters over the past 23 days.
A lawyer representing the group said the ongoing Occupy Central movement in places such as Mong Kok had blocked many roads and disrupted public transport and had led to financial losses for several taxi and bus companies.
The injunction forbids demonstrators from occupying a section of Nathan Road between Argyle Street and Dundas Street in Mong Kok, and from putting up barricades there to block traffic. It is due to expire on Friday morning.
Later, the court also granted an interim injunction barring protesters from continuing to occupy a section between Tim Mei Avenue and Lung Wui Road.
An application had been filed by proprietors of the CITIC Tower, who complained that blocked roads had affected the operation of emergency vehicles and threatened their safety.
Violent clashes between protesters and police were seen on Friday and Saturday night, leaving dozens of people injured, including 22 police officers. Four people were arrested for assault.
More scuffles erupted late on Sunday, the third turbulent night in Mong Kok following a predawn operation by police on Friday, when most of the tents, canopies and barricades blocking main roads in the commercial area of Kowloon for almost three weeks were removed.
Mong Kok is an offshoot protest site across the Victoria Harbor from the main demonstration area in Admiralty where government headquarters are located.
Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary Carrie Lam said on Saturday that the region’s government planned to have formal talks with representatives of students taking part in the Occupy movement today, with each side having five representatives.
Convenor of the Executive Council W. K. Lam said yesterday that it was too ambitious to expect government officials and student representatives to reach an agreement on political reform during the meeting.
But he hoped the two sides could agree on a platform for continuing the talks while restoring social order in the city.
Chief Superintendent of Police Public Relations Branch Hui Chun-tak told a press briefing yesterday that clashes in Mong Kok are likely to escalate into riots, urging protesters to stop expanding the protest areas.
He also condemned those who brought along their children to the area and warned that those who make use of the Internet to stir up others to get involved in unlawful activities should be ready for the consequences of their actions.
Thousands of protesters, mostly students, joined the Occupy Central movement on September 28 to express their discontent with an electoral reform package for choosing Hong Kong’s next leader.
The protests, now in their fourth week, are increasingly testing the patience of other Hong Kong residents, with district councilors yesterday signing an open letter to demand resumption of social order. The letter, signed by 400 district councilors from all 18 districts in the city, urges the protesters to retreat.
The councilors expressed their respect for the students’ wishes for a better Hong Kong, as well as the hope that they would also consider the serious effect their occupation was having on people’s lives and economic activity, according to local media reports.
Yesterday, a restaurant owner and a supermarket proprietor filed claims in the Small Claims Tribunal against Occupy Central organizers, saying the movement had caused losses to their business.
The cases will be heard on December 10.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
