Hong Kong Protests: Demonstrators, Riot Cops Clash Ahead Of Tuesday’s Talks

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy student demonstrators pushed back against riot police shortly after midnight Sunday, local time, reoccupying an area in the city’s bustling Mong Kok district cleared hours earlier by authorities. It was the third consecutive night of violence that could jeopardize talks scheduled for Tuesday between government officials and leaders of the Occupy Central movement.

"We'll keep coming back," student activist Angel So, 20, told Reuters as another activist treated his scraped arms and legs following a confrontation earlier in the day with police officers.

As many as 500 officers were deployed Saturday to clear roadblocks at the smaller protest encampment away from the main downtown protest area, but some police were forced into a partial retreat to the jeers of the demonstrators. At least 33 people had been arrested by Sunday morning, the South China Morning Post reported.

Hong Kong Police Commissioner Andy Tsang said his 28,000-member police force had been “extremely tolerant” in the face of “radical or violent” demonstrators, local media reports said.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said he was working toward resumption of talks with leaders of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, which opposes Beijing’s decision to authorize all candidates for Hong Kong’s 2017 elections. But Leung said mainland officials will not back down from its decision.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, the government negotiator, said Saturday the talks with pro-democracy protesters would be broadcast live on local media Tuesday, CNN reported.