Hong Kong protests lose steam

HONG KONG Hong Kong protesters were under pressure Monday to end their pro-democracy campaign as their numbers dwindled after a chaotic week of mass rallies, and frustration grew over disruption and traffic gridlock.
The demonstrations that had drawn tens of thousands evaporated Sunday night in the face of a warning from Hong Kong’s embattled leader Leung Chun-ying to leave the streets and allow government offices to reopen.
Crowds ebbed to just a few hundred weary activists at their main site in the harbour side Admiralty district, but were beginning to gradually pick up again as people left work and headed back to the streets late Monday.
inside no 9.1 Student leaders denied their campaign for free elections had lost momentum, saying they were dug in and would remain until the government agrees to conditions for talks on political reform.
But Leung issued another warning to disperse, saying they should leave the flashpoint district of Mongkok on the Kowloon peninsula, which has seen ugly scuffles with triad mobs, “as soon as possible”.
“To prevent violent crime and to reduce the amount of injuries, police will take action at the right time,” Leung said in a televised address, describing the area as “high risk”.
The protesters and their well-organised campaign have enjoyed strong public support, with sympathy soaring after police used tear gas on the crowds. But after shutting down parts of the city for more than a week, irritation has grown.
Highways were jammed with traffic and subway trains were packed Monday as frustrated commuters tried to find their way to and from work, battling cancelled bus routes and road diversions.
A four-day environment symposium gathering 11 Nobel winners that was due to open on Wednesday has been scrapped “due to the sustained disruptions in the city,” the organisers said Monday.
inside no 9However, secondary schools closures in affected areas, which had been a particular headache for families, were lifted and the government said primary schools would reopen on Tuesday.
Student leader Alex Chow said the occupation of the streets would continue until the government agrees to preconditions the demonstrators have set for negotiations.
The protesters are demanding free and open elections to select the former British colony’s next leader in 2017. China’s Communist authorities insist only pre-approved candidates will be able to run, a system critics dismiss as “fake democracy”.

sourced:ttrweekly.com