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Dozens arrested in Hong Kong clashes

December 1, 2014

Violent unrest overnight in Hong Kong saw clashes between police and pro-democracy protesters, with dozens arrested. The demonstrators tried to storm government headquarters.

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Hongkong Protest und Zusammenstöße 30.11. 2014
Image: Reuters/B. Yip

Fresh unrest broke out between police and protesters in Hong Kong as Monday morning rush hour got underway. It followed a night of violence in the Admiralty district near the territory's government headquarters, and in the district of Mong Kok.

Police fired pepper spray and used batons on hundreds of protesters who had spilled into a major road outside the office of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. The demonstrators wore helmets and used umbrellas to protect themselves from the pepper spray.

Several protesters were injured, along with at least 11 police officers. Up to 40 people were arrested.

The chaotic scenes are the latest in what has been months of unrest in Hong Kong. The pro-democracy protesters have demanded that Beijing grant genuine democratic reforms to the semi-autonomous territory. They are furious over China's refusal to grant free elections for the city's next leader in 2017.

Although Hong Kong has enjoyed substantial political autonomy since being handed back to China by Britain in 1997, its leader since then has been chosen by a pro-Beijing committee.

jr/lw (dpa, AFP)