Early this morning in Hongkong, protesters attempted to reclaim some lost roads. The police had other plans and decided to take down a few protesters. Unfortunately, they did not realize on of the is a member of the opposition party. (Mind you -- Ken Tsang is not a Legislature Council members, but he is a party member, nonetheless.) He received ample media coverage after the excessive display of force by the police. The surge at the central protest site was noticable. The overnight protesters have signaled their support into two ways: (1) tents are now widely seen at the main sight -- hundreds, and (2) a large one-night protest was held at the Hongkong Island police headquarters about five meters away from the government center -- conveniently located!
At the center of the protest site, a man speaks to a crowd.
A new signed appeared tonight, warning Taiwan of future action by the Mainland Chinese government. The Chinese writing reads: "Today Hongkong, Tomorrow Taiwan". For those unfamiliar with the modern history of Taiwan, it is essentially viewed as a breakaway state from Mainland China by most international organizations -- United Nations in particular. The irony lies in the fact that the United States has a law that guarantees the defence of Taiwan in the event of military action by Mainland China. Additionally, more than 150 countries around the world unofficially recognize Taiwan as a de facto independent state by accepting passports of its citizens. Many (including the United States and European Union member states) have separate treaties to deal with trade issues. If you control your military, borders, and passports, what else defines you as an independent nation?
A sequence of hand-drawn paintings appeared this evening. They are magical. Enjoy.
Students, sitting, listening to a speaker.
A tent city begins...
Tatami mats included!
A construction cone marks the exit from the protest center.
Earlier in the day, police arrived on site to tear down barrier erected by students. Following the carnage, organizers quickly rebuilt.
Someone used the divots from reflectors in the expressway to hold some plants.
Here is a short video clip panning the new tent city.
Here is the scene at the Hongkong Island police headquarters protesting the beating of a protesters one day before.
At one of the earliest supply stations in the route from Central (Financial District) to Causeway Bay, there is a beautiful sign with my favourite (understood) slogan for these protests: "Hongkong... refuelling!"
Near CKC (Cheung Kong Centre), a man sits on an expressway divider, checking messages on his mobile phone. Below, a beautiful sign of caligraphy stands afixed.
Another angle...
I saw a few of these signs tonight. The characters are very cute.
One road into the government centre was guarded by just three police tonight. It was a record low.
Attached to the side of the new government center were some recent newspapers. An editorial advert showed a running man carrying a yellow umbrella.
Here is a series of hand-drawn posters I saw on the side of a building.
The wall of sticky notes that follows a curving outdoors staircase on the edge of the parliment building has become a focal point of messages left by protesters. It was recently named (unofficially) "Lennon Wall, Hongkong" after John Lennon and his public messages against the Vietnam War.
A projector was installed to display Tweets from supporters around the globe.
I am bit behind, so forgive me to rush a bit here.
Some new artwork for the 'umbrella movement'...
Another great short from an expressway overpass looking down into a main entrance to the government complex. Notice the overall headcount of police officers: curiously low. Smart strategy, me thinks.
At the very heart of the political protests, a man with a grey goatee gave a rousing political speach into a bullhorn.
The same speaker, closer.
An effigy was errected by local artists at the very center of the protests. I don't know its exact meaning, but it may draw from Lady Liberty (from New York City and Paris) or the Goddess of Democracy (from the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989). Of course, the statue holds, with an extended arm, a yellow umbrella -- a symbol of these protests.
I saw about fifty copies of this sign on the route home. It was new today.
A large banner, more than ten meters long, hangs on the side of an expressway off-ramp. These protests center around the coming election in 2017 for the next head of state ("CEO") in Hongkong. Under recently announced plans, Beijing will vet each candidate for sufficient patriotism. These protesters ask for full control of the selection process.
At the outer edge of the center, a table was setup. A group of students sat to have an evening snack and share stories.
Another single page-sized poster from an unnamed artist. Unfortunately, I don't know the meaning.
A last look back from a pedestrian overpass to the road below. A bus roars past on a rare stretch of open expressway, while students wait patiently, keeping watch over the barriers.
In closing, I leave you, the reader, with a short video of the police standing guard at a main entrance to the government center. You can clearly see their bordem.
