HK protests rekindled

This item appears on page 17 of the January 2015 issue.

On the morning of Nov. 25, Hong Kong police cleared a street and arrested 12 people in the Mong Kok commercial district, one of the locations occupied by pro-democracy protesters since protests began in late September. Thousands of protesters returned to the streets that evening, erecting more barriers and clashing with police. Police used pepper spray and batons against the protesters, arresting more than 100.

On Nov. 30, near the offices of Chief Executive C.Y. Leung, protesters threw bottles and umbrellas at police as officers responded with pepper spray, water cannons and batons. Police were reportedly injured and at least 40 people were arrested. Government offices were closed the next morning but opened that afternoon.

On Dec. 1, a court-ordered injunction called for police to clear protest camps in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong. Mr. Leung warned protesters not to return to the streets, saying police would be less tolerant in the future.