UNTV Drone Capture: Occupy Hong Kong Protest at night
HONG KONG (10/4/2014) – Hong Kong Government issues ultimatum on pro-democracy demonstrations as Violence broke out in Mong Kok district between thousands of Pro-democracy protesters and irritated local residents after a week-long rally.
The pro-democracy protest, which started last week, disrupted businesses severely as tens of thousands of supporters jammed the streets of Mong Kok’s business center as they demand full democracy and Universal suffrage.
Currently the huge number of protesters have blocked roads in Wan Chai, Central and Western business districts in the city. This forced Hong Kong’s Chief Executive C.Y. Leung to issue an ultimatum to end the protests by Monday to allow more than 3,000 government employees blocked by the protest to resume their work.
The public outcry started when Beijing decreed on August 31st candidates who will run for chief executive in the 2017 Hong Kong elections. This angered pro-democracy supporters, which started the demonstrations culminating into this week-long stand-off.
Hong Kong police on the ground to maintain peace and order. (UNTV News)
China’s interference in Hong Kong’s elections blatantly disregards the “one country, two systems policy,” which was legislated as a compromise between China and the United Kingdom on the city’s turnover in 1997. The policy gave Hong Kong a semi-autonomous government ensuring its residents their privilege to independently hold elections and vote for its Chief executive.
The protest started as a typical demonstration led by University students to voice their opinions on China’s participation in the Hong Kong elections. However, the police were called in to quell the growing protest as their numbers start to block major thoroughfares with in the city threatening businesses. The police action resulted in the use of tear gas to disperse the emotionally-charged demonstrators, only to attract a large wave of sympathizers.
In a public televised statement, Mr. Leung said, “The government and the police have the responsibility and determination to take all necessary actions to restore social order,” sending a sharp message to protesters to end their demonstrations or face the consequences. In response, Hong Kong Federation of Students said that they would pull out from planned talks with the government because they believed the authorities had conspired in the attacks on demonstrators in Mong Kok. Protesters alleged that the government connived with criminal gangs or triads operating in Mong Kok to disrupt the protests.
UNTV Drone Capture: Occupy Hong Kong Protest at daytime
While Leung made an apparent concession by offering talks, Beijing restated its resolute, that it would vet opposition to the protests and their demand for complete electoral autonomy. Facing separatist unrest in resource-rich Tibet and Xinjiang, Beijing is unlikely to give in to continued demands by Hong Kong protesters, fearful that pro-democratic sentiments could spread to the Mainland.
The economic impact of the unrest is clearly felt as Hong Kong’s benchmark share index with Hang Seng plunged 7.3 percent in September reportedly.
Luxury goods manufacturers and distributors took a substantial hit analysts say, as upper-class customers are avoiding Hong Kong in favor of other cities due to the recent unrest.
In its coverage, UNTV offered a bird’s eye view on the extent of the week-long protest in Hong Kong. It is also the only Philippine Media outfit able to fly a drone on Chinese territory
(With reports from Atty. Regie Tongol, Robie Demelletes-de Guzman. Photos credited to Argie Purisima and UNTV News HK team)