Hong Kong police assembled by the hundreds, chainsaws in hands, to cut down street protesters’ barricades on Tuesday, the latest in a long-running standoff between pro-democracy rallies and law enforcement.
The government ordered the police to use power tools and chainsaws to dissemble the road blocks — road barriers that in some cases, have stymied motorists’ access for more than two weeks, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The chainsaw action came just one day after counter-protesters — those with apparent frustration at the democracy rallies that have waged in the streets for days — tried to tear down the same barriers, sparking scuffles, the Los Angeles Times said.
In the end, democracy protesters only built up stronger barriers, using the likes of garbage cans, cement, bus stop signs and potted plants, the newspaper reported.
Hong Kong’s key travel areas have been shut for the past two weeks, and the shopping district of Mong Kok has suffered, authorities said. Roughly 750 tents have been put up by the government headquarters in the Admiralty district, the South China Morning Post estimated.
Demonstrators want more freedom and additional nominations in the next election in 2017 and are demanding China loosen controls.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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