Hong Kong Protests Close Down Government | WPN World People News

Clashes in Hong Kong between pro-democracy protesters and police have closed government offices and parliament.

Hundreds of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters clashed with police while trying to expand their protests outside government headquarters.

Demonstrators stormed past police lines early Monday in a bid to occupy a major road in the Admiralty district. Hundreds of riot police armed with pepper spray and batons pushed back, injuring several protesters and arresting at least 18.

Police officials said they "had no other choice" than to use pepper spray and batons in their effort to de-escalate the clashes.

It was the latest in a series of skirmishes between police and protesters in the past week. On Friday, authorities scuffled with student protesters while clearing barricades from a main road in the Mong Kok neighborhood. Several protesters were detained, including student leaders Lester Shum and Joshua Wong.

The protests have persisted since late September, but have been dwindling. Several recent public opinion polls suggest the protests are beginning to lose public support.

The demonstrators have been calling for fully democratic elections in 2017. They took to the streets after China ruled in August that all candidates for Hong Kong's chief executive must first be approved by a committee that is stacked with pro-Beijing loyalists.

Source: Voice of America