HUNDREDS of protesters and Hong Kong police clashed yesterday, with officers firing pepper spray as some became violent while trying to surround the headquarters of the SAR government, which strongly condemned the acts of violence.

    The Hong Kong government said protesters took part in unlawful assemblies, conspired and organized the storming of police cordon lines and blockaded access to the Central Government Offices (CGO) and Lung Wo Road, all of which showed blatant disregard for the law and endangered public safety.

    A government spokesman reiterated that the city would not accept the illegal acts of violent radicals who repeatedly pushed police officers and charged their cordon lines during scuffles Sunday night and yesterday morning, adding that they had seriously disrupted public order and put the safety of police officers and protesters at stake.

    During the jostling, some deliberately threw objects including water bottles, helmets and pepper spray at the police officers. They also used laser lights against police officers and attacked them by spraying fire extinguishers.

    Some repeatedly provoked and verbally abused police officers and continuously incited others at the scene to charge the police cordon lines. To prevent the situation from deteriorating, police took resolute action by using pepper spray and batons to stop, disperse and arrest those involved.

    However, some protesters ignored repeated police appeals and warnings and continued to charge the cordon lines. Eleven police officers were injured during the incident, as were several protesters, and 40 arrests were made.

    The SAR government strongly condemned the student groups for planning illegal assemblies and inciting protesters to charge towards the CGO repeatedly.

    The spokesman said a number of recent polls had revealed that the majority of Hong Kongers hope protesters to leave the occupied sites as soon as possible and cease to block roads.

    Responding to claims by student groups that the blockade of the CGO will continue until the government responds to their demands, the government has reiterated that any discussion relating to constitutional reform must be guided by the Basic Law and the decision of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

    The government appealed to organizers of the assemblies to refrain from breaking the law and asked all participants to remain calm and exercise restraint, stop provoking police officers and charging police lines, and leave the scene peacefully and in an orderly manner.(Xinhua)