Monday, September 29, 2014 | 11:31 AM
HONG KONG, (AFP) – The ranks of Hong Kong democracy protesters who have paralysed parts of the city swelled into their tens of thousands Monday, digging in for another night of confrontation with police in their campaign for free elections.
The protesters defied government calls to go home, a day after chaotic scenes saw riot police fire tear gas in running battles with angry crowds in one of the biggest ever challenges to Beijing’s rule of the semi-autonomous city.
As night fell, thousands of demonstrators who have blocked off a major highway turned on the torches on their mobile phones, turning the Admiralty business district into a sea of lights.
Some of those swelling the crowds on Monday said they had been horrified to see police using tear gas on the protesters — many of whom are students — and came to voice their disgust.
“We don’t know how the police could do that,” teacher Shum Yuen-ping said.
“We want to have our own democracy, and we came to provide our students with support.”
The demonstrators are furious over China’s refusal to grant free elections for the city’s next leader in 2017, insisting that it will vet the candidates in a decision that critics brand a “fake democracy”.
Public anger over rampant inequality is also at its highest in years in a world financial hub once renowned for its stability.
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Hong Kong protesters prepare for more clashes
