Skirmishes between police and protesters dragged into Monday morning after some of the worst violence since the protests began in September broke out on Sunday night as demonstrators attempted to lay siege to Hong Kong’s government headquarters in Admiralty.
At least 58 people, including 11 police officers, were injured and 40 arrests were made as pro-democracy protesters fought running battles with riot police armed with pepper spray and batons.
A government statement blamed the clashes on “violent radicals [who] repeatedly provoked and verbally abused police officers”. CY Leung, Hong Kong’s chief executive, hinted that more than two months after the protests began a major police operation to end them was now imminent.
“From now on, police will enforce the law without hesitation,” he said, according to Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK.
The outbreak of violence coincided with the start of what could become a serious diplomatic row between China and Britain, after Sir Richard Ottaway, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, accused Beijing of blocking a group of British MPs from conducting a fact-finding mission to Hong Kong.
The Conservative MP had planned to lead a delegation to the former British colony in the third week of December as part of an inquiry into Hong Kong’s post-handover political transition but a senior Chinese diplomat informed him the trip would not be allowed, he claimed.
“I think it is a decision they will regret,” Sir Richard said, describing the Chinese move as “overtly confrontational” and “frankly ridiculous”.
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, believes China is “mistaken” to block the MPs’ delegation and that the decision would be “counterproductive,” a spokesperson said on Monday.
The Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is also understood to have raised the issue in a meeting between foreign ministers in Vienna last week.
“This only amplifies concerns, rather than diminishing them,” said a spokesperson for the Prime Minister, who said the British government wanted a dialogue over the decision. “The reason that the Prime Minister thinks it is a mistaken decision is because it is counterproductive.”
Beijing swatted away the criticism. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson claimed it was Sir Richard Ottaway’s committee and not China that was being provocative.
"It has been noted that some people on the British parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee said that China's banning of them entering Hong Kong was overtly confrontational. But China said many times to Britain it was resolutely opposed to the so-called investigation by the group sent by the British Lower House and asked that they cancel the visit,” Hua Chunying, the spokesperson, told a media briefing in Beijing.
"If certain British MPs insist on doing this, that's what is meant by overt confrontation and this is not beneficial for China-British relations,” Ms Hua added. "For those who really want to promote good relations the door remains open, but we are firmly opposed to anyone attempting to interfere in China's domestic affairs."
Cui Hongjian, an international relations expert from the China Institute of International Studies, said Beijing’s move was “understandable” because of what he claimed were its fears that an attempt to overthrow the Communist Party – with foreign support – was under way in Hong Kong.
“Given the choice between international criticism and domestic stability, the Chinese government certainly cares more about the latter,” said Prof Cui, who said the British government was unlikely to protest too loudly for fear of jeopardising its economic relationship with China.
“The Chinese government knows how to distinguish between the British government and a small bunch of excitable MPs and the media.”
An uneasy calm had returned to Hong Kong’s main protest camp in Admiralty on Monday night.
Alex Chow, a prominent student leader, said supporters were considering whether to continue with their protests or to retreat. “We believe occupation has its strengths and limits, but what we’ve underestimated is the strength of [the government’s] political power,” he told the South China Morning Post.
