Hundreds of local citizens – either opposed to the pro-democracy protests triggered by local students, or exasperated by the disturbances caused by them – have attacked the main camp of the protesters today, trying to tear down street barricades, The New York Times reports. The two parts were kept apart by the police forces, while also being determined to get rid of the barricades. The confrontation between the protesters and their opponents happened in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district, where the first street protests started.
Opponents to the protests have gathered in a park near the sit-in barricades established by the protesters at the two ends of the Queensway, the main traffic artery of the district sealed off by them, and began chanting in Cantonese, demanding the road to be open. Later they approached the protesters and began pulling the barricades made of portable steel railings apart. The demonstrators have assembled these barricades to continue putting pressure on the government and protect their encampment. Three people were arrested by the local police on assault charges, although the reports do not say from which part.
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Some barricades were removed by the Hong Kong police forces by surprise, hours before the opponents of the protests have appeared. The protest camp was left untouched then, but a main artery was open. Hui Chun-Tak, the chief police spokesperson in Hong Kong, has urged both sides to stay calm. At a press conference Mr. Hui has declared that police forces were ready to dismantle the barricades, although this move could easily relight the tensions with the pro-democracy protesters which have in the meantime occupied two other districts of the city.