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Hong Kong protesters block major roads

Iran Press TV

Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:57PM GMT

Protesters have expanded their demonstrations in Hong Kong, blocking major roads across the city.

The protesters, who are demanding election reforms, remained defiant on Sunday and spread their demonstration into new sites despite police's use of tear gas and threat to take further measures against them.

Hong Kong's Occupy Central pro-democracy movement launched a massive sit-in earlier in the day, paralyzing parts of the city in protest at a decision by China's National People's Congress (NPC) to restrict electoral reforms in the territory.

The demonstrators reportedly blocked major roads, including Queensway, Gloucester Rd and Connaught Rd, across Hong Kong, after occupying a highway containing the city's financial district.

According to reports, clashes erupted between Hong Kong police and the protesters.

'It was very cruel for the police to use such harsh violence on protesters who had been completely peaceful,' said one of the demonstrators, adding, 'Now, police have solved nothing and students are more resolved to stay.'

Dozens of protesters were reportedly arrested during the clashes. Some of the detained protesters were freed afterwards.

Thousands of students from more than 20 universities along with 400 academics and non-teaching staff have boycotted classes since Monday, September 22, to protest the decision by the NPC.

The campaign was launched after Beijing decided to rule out open nominations for the city's next chief executive in 2017, forcing the voters to choose from a list of two or three candidates selected by a nominating committee.

Activists insisted that the region's citizens must be able to elect the chief executive. They believe the decision raises fears that candidates will be screened for loyalty to Beijing.

China has said it will introduce universal suffrage for the city's 2017 election, but wants a committee to approve the candidates.

The election will be the first in which the chief executive is directly chosen by voters.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The financial hub has enjoyed substantial political autonomy since 1997, when its leadership returned to China after about a century of British colonial rule.

IA/MAM/AS