The battle between Hong Kong democracy activists and the Chinese government escalated yesterday as police resorted to tear gas and pepper spray to try to clear tens of thousands of protesters from a central business district.
Protests on such a scale are rare in Hong Kong and the rapid and heavy response of the authorities – with massive police deployment, roadblocks and internet cut off – underscored the government’s anxiety about the momentum the movement has gained.
They stem from China’s decision last month to introduce a form of universal suffrage for the election of Hong Kong chief executive, the top political job, but with restrictions that would make it impossible for critics of Beijing to run.
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