[CUHK One Month] Alumni Demonstrators on Campus Battlefield Recalling Yanyan Bridge

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Written by: Huang Guigui

2019-12-12 04:12

Every early winter, the cold wind will dye more than a dozen Lobster pines by the Red Circle Lake of Chung Chi College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong into Zhu Chi. However, this year, the No. 2 bridge on the other side of the mountain city was the first to burst into red overnight in mid-November.

On the evening of November 12, H passed the supplies at the Xia Dingji Stadium, and stood on the stairs looking at the Erqiao Bridge: a fiery red burst into the white smoke. Police on the second bridge fired bullets such as rain. Rubber bullets, sponge bombs, and cloth puppets flew from the muzzle, and fell on umbrellas, wooden tables, and large garbage cans used by demonstrators as shields. The white smoke released by the tear gas devoured half of the mountain, while the protesters threw incendiary bombs and evacuated the police step by step.

"Seeing the police enter (Zhongda), I feel offended. Anyway, I really want to protect this place." H said, Zhongda was where he lived for four years.

(Interviewee H and Xingxing are pseudonyms)

In the early morning of November 11, some college students responded to the "Operation of Dawn" and threw debris on the No. 2 Bridge on the Tolo Highway to paralyze the traffic and achieve the "compulsory three strikes". (Photo / Photo by Liang Pengwei)

Prelude: "Dawn Operations" Rising at CUHK

In early November, Zhou Zile, a student of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, died in a parking lot near the scene of the conflict, and grief and anger spread throughout the territory. At the time, the Anti-Amendment Movement lasted five months. Some demonstrators believed that the government had not yet responded to the "five major demands", so they launched the "Dawn Operation" on November 11 to paralyze the traffic in Hong Kong and force the citizens to "strike."

CUHK students responded and threw debris at the Tolo Harbour Highway at the Erqiao site in the early morning of the 11th, blocking the main trunk road north of the New Territories. At 8 am, the police arrived and fired pepper balls at the students at Erqiao. In the afternoon, the fronts of the two sides extended from the Second Bridge to the "Four Pillars" of Chongji Gate and the main entrance of the university. "At that time, there was a lot of news on the Internet asking everyone to join the CUHK helper. I went in." In the afternoon, we will enter CUHK support. When the police fired multiple tear gas grenades, he threw incendiary bombs to fight back.

On November 11, demonstrators set fire to barricades inside the Chinese University of Hong Kong, preventing police from entering the University of China. (Profile picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)

H, a 23-year-old alumnus of CUHK, was very angry when he learned that the police had invaded CUHK. "But it was almost finished at that time, and the main road to CUHK was congested. It was difficult to enter." The highway and the Tai Po Highway were red, and many citizens walked into CUHK for half an hour on Ma On Shan. H has been paying attention to the news about CUHK on his mobile phone, and contacted friends to enter CUHK support on the 12th.

From the afternoon of the 11th to the noon of the 12th, demonstrators and police held each other's confrontation. (Profile picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)

Main song: Smoky mountains

That night, the demonstrators and the police occupied each side of the Second Bridge. Until 12 noon on the 12th, the two vice presidents of the University of China Wu Jipei and Wu Shupei arrived at the scene to negotiate with the two sides. The police requested the demonstrators to stay in place and promised not to throw debris to the Tolo Highway. On the campus, a student pointed to the vice-principal: "CUHK is our campus, not a place where police can come in casually."

Police allege that entering the campus for law enforcement was caused by students throwing debris at the Tolo Highway on the Erqiao Bridge. The 23-year-old star believes that "the police are hostile to students, because most of the frontline are young people. Now young is the original sin. Young people walking in the street in black will be intercepted by the police."

At 3 pm, the talks between the two sides broke down, triggering the first clash of the CUHK that day. Police rushed into the CUHK campus and arrested several demonstrators. Later, the demonstrators stationed burned private cars and jumped up high, covering the city with smoke.

Earlier, the university's president Duan Chong stated in an open letter: In general, if the police want to enter the campus, the security department will first check with the police to find out the reason for the school, understand whether the police is executing a court search order, or investigate with the consent of the person , Or there are reasonable suspicions that a suspected offender is present on a premises. According to the geographical information map of the Lands Department, the land boundary of CUHK is private land, while the second bridge on the border of CUHK is government land. CUHK is authorized for non-dedicated right of way and is responsible for maintenance.

Around 12 noon on the 12th, Vice President Wu Jipei of the University of China went to Erqiao to discuss with police and demonstrators. (Photo / Photo by Liang Pengwei)

Guide song: Good offices of the principal, demonstrators and police

News of the police's "capture" of the mountain city spread on the Internet. Citizens flooded into CUHK support, and a steady stream of supplies flowed from the Chongji Gate of the Tai Po Highway and the "Four Pillars" into CUHK. H and his friend Zhang Luo arrived at the "Four Pillars" at 6 pm with first aid items and ice packs. "I've always been an adult and I'm more familiar with the terrain of the University and I can help you anyway. Even if I can help you, I want to go back and see."

As the Erqiao and University Stations at the foot of the mountain were closed, the "four pillars" on the mountainside became granaries after the war. H joins as a "grass and grass soldier" and classifies materials such as food, clothes, and first aid items.

On the afternoon of the 12th, the police rushed into the University of China to arrest a number of demonstrators. Some demonstrators ran into the Xia Dingji Stadium and burned high jump cushions at the entrance, emitting a lot of dense smoke. (Photo / Photo by Liang Pengwei)

When H arrived at CUHK, CUHK President Duan Chongzhi also reached the Second Bridge, mediating between police and demonstrators. After Duan Chongzhi negotiated with the police, he brought a "great breakthrough": as long as the students no longer threw debris under the bridge, the police would withdraw from the second bridge. This "breakthrough" did not meet the demands of the protesters. "What should we do with the hands and feet arrested in the afternoon?" And "Requires the release of all arrested CUHK students!" One after another, some students collapsed with excitement.

Negotiations were stuck, and H, who was far away from the "four pillars", became a member of the transportation team, holding a fire extinguisher in the "granary" and walking from the mountainside to the foot of the mountain. When he reached the foot of the mountain, it was around 7.20pm.

Demonstrators burned cars and sundries inside CUHK, preventing police from advancing. (Photo / Photo by Liang Pengwei)

At that time, Duan Chongzhi stated that he was willing to go to the police station to meet the arrested students. Demonstrators "escorted" him to the police defense line behind Duan Chongzhi. At a distance of about 100 meters from Duan Chongzhi's party to the police line, the police raised blue and orange flags and shouted to Duan Chongzhi through the microphone: "You control the person behind you, don't come over." 7:30 The police released multiple tear gas bombs, and Duan Chongzhi, without any protective equipment, inhaled the tear gas and left under the protection of students and staff.

Smoke and sparks exploded overnight at Bridge Two.

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The police fired tear gas bombs on the demonstrators and CUHK President Duan Chongzhi. Duan Chongzhi inhaled tear gas without any protective equipment and was shielded by the teaching staff and demonstrators. (Profile picture / Photo by Zeng Ziyang)

Chorus: Battle of Bridge Two

H is holding the fire extinguisher and intends to enter the front line from Xia Dingji Stadium. On the stairs, he sees that the "Second Bridge" has become a battlefield. H remembers that when he stepped on a bicycle, he would pass the second bridge. "At that time, I only knew that there was such a bridge, but I never knew it was called" second bridge. "

He saw bullets fired by the police like pouring rain, and the sound of rubber bullets, sponge bombs, and cloth bag bullets from the muzzle of the muzzle sounded through the hill. A fist-sized silver bullet landed in front of, near, and above his head, releasing a pungent white tear gas. Demonstrators used umbrellas, round wooden tables, large trash cans, mattresses and floating boards as shields. Some people hid behind the "shields" and threw incendiary bombs at the police.

The demonstrators used umbrellas, round tables, and floating boards as shields to resist tear gas, rubber bullets, sponge bombs, and cloth bag bombs fired by the police. (Profile picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)

Everyone cooperates with each other, and everyone has their own post.

"Everyone has a very clear division of labor. It is a whole," said Xingxing, a front-line demonstrator. They are like a group of ants, the stars are soldier ants. After he was round the wooden table, he simply extended his palm backwards, and someone handed the incendiary bomb to his hand. The star's job was to spot the timing and position and throw the incendiary bomb.

He felt that the demonstrators had a strong consensus that night: Guardian Zhongda. "Everyone cooperates with each other. Everyone has their own post. I can concentrate on throwing incendiary bombs without having to worry about anything else." When the police fired a tear gas grenade, the demonstrators in front of the center would take the initiative to extinguish the smoke. Ice cream cones are covered with tear gas, and then water is poured from the pores on the top; someone directly holds a large bucket and puts the tear gas into the bucket for immersion; someone holds a fire extinguisher and blows out the tear gas with carbon dioxide.

Xingxing said: "Everyone cooperates with each other, and everyone has their own position. I can concentrate on throwing incendiary bombs, and I don't need to worry about other things." (Photo / Photo by Zeng Ziyang)

At that time, I felt that no one on the front line had ever thought about losing. Everyone had a strong willpower. Even if they were shot, many people seemed to be wounded, and they returned to the front line in a while.

Others acted as "workers", including H, providing endless supplies to the front line. H said that when the current line was hot, someone in the rear kept making incendiary bombs. "Remember an uncle came over and asked us:" Here is an electric oil. Where should I put it? " The "Four Pillars" continue to the Second Bridge, and transfer the materials of the "Granary" such as umbrellas, helmets, masks, etc. to the front line. This group of "worker ants" came from all directions, including junior college students, alumni, middle school students, and even teachers.

The stars on the front line saw many people falling and being shot. "But everyone was very united. One was shot, and even the fa (responder) didn't have to call. Four or five people had already carried the shot to the back, and then someone filled it. So there have been many people on the front line. "But more people did not retreat after being shot, and fought until the last moment." At that time, I felt that no one on the front line had thought of losing. Everyone had a strong will. Many people even It was as if the shot was just scratching the skin. It took me a while to return to the front line. "

According to information released by the police, the police used 1,567 tear gas bombs, 1,312 rubber bullets, 380 bag bombs and 126 sponge bombs throughout Hong Kong on the same day. The Battle of the Second Bridge of Zhongda was the main front of the day.

The incendiary bombs fired by the demonstrators exploded in a tearful smoke and fell on the Second Bridge to form a sea of ​​fire. (Profile picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)

Interlude: Brave Preparations for "Transformation"

Xingxing is not a student of CUHK. He said that he did not have the mentality of "determining a deadly battle" for CUHK. "Since June, where there is something, there will be a front line. Today, CUHK has something. Of course I will come because I need it here." He said However, he felt that many middle school and college students in the front line were fighting against the water. "The sound of bullets in" 嘭 嘭 嘭 "has not stopped. They were injured but they did not back off."

H, a CUHK alumni, said that he is not a brave martial arts, "he has never thrown incendiary bombs, he has always just set up roadblocks." But on the evening of the 12th, he had a realization that he could "transform" brave martial arts at any time, " If the front line needs me, or if the police attack other places in the university, I'm ready to throw a fire bomb. "

H said that he had never been a brave martial arts, but on the 12th, he was mentally ready to throw incendiary bombs at any time. (Profile picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)

I have lived in this place and have more or less memories. Although I may not have a sense of belonging here, I just do not like others to engage in CUHK. I felt offended when I saw the police entering. Anyway, I really want to protect this place.

H smiled and said that he didn't think he liked CUHK before. "The Chinese University is very large, and there are many mosquitoes, and I am prone to mosquitoes, so I like Zhongda University." When he graduated, he did not even buy a graduation gown. But on the 12th, when he saw that CUHK was turned into a battlefield, and thousands of bullets shot into the top of the mountain, he felt a kind of "offense". "I have lived in this place, and I have more or less memories. Although I may not have a sense of belonging here, I just don't like others to engage in CUHK. I saw the police entering and felt offended me. "I really want to protect this place." He paused. "Although I don't want to say this, CUHK is my housing company. No one likes their own housing company."

Tears of smoke haunted half of Zhongda Mountain. (Profile picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)

Bridge section: water cannon car debut

On the second bridge, sparks burst into the white smoke, forming a sea of ​​fire, separating the demonstrators and the police. The police couldn't move forward, and the demonstrators were like ants, stepping towards the Second Bridge step by step. After hiding behind the shield array, they used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire in front, and then advanced, threw incendiary bombs, and then extinguished the fire and advanced ... until 9 pm, the demonstrators boarded the bridge from the bridgehead of the waterfront road. The demonstrators stopped the offensive after regaining the Second Bridge, and the police still fired a large number of bullets at the demonstrators.

At this time, Wu Jipei, the Vice President of the University of Hong Kong, only brought a pig's mouth, no blindfolds, and took a loud voice to the second bridge bridge head and shouted to the frontline police officer. Ask the police to suspend the tear gas bomb and retreat! "-Oh! As he said, several tear gas bombs fell beside Wu Jipei. At this time, news came from the scene that the water cannon vehicle had arrived at Erqiao.

After more than an hour of fierce fighting, the demonstrators kept advancing from the tennis courts of CUHK and boarded the Second Bridge around 9 pm. (Profile picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)

At the time, H was at the rear. "When everyone heard that there were water cannon cars, they continued to pass from the" Four Pillars "to Yuqiao to the Second Bridge, and all the time, many people!" He immediately transported materials from the "Four Pillars" to the front.

Around 10 pm, the water cannon vehicle sprayed blue liquid on the demonstrators on the second bridge. The stars were not shot by the blue water, but he saw front-line demonstrators suddenly turned into "Avatars." More than ten minutes later, the police and water monitor retreated. Regarding why the water cannon truck was still deployed after reaching a consensus on retreat with Wu Jipei, the police explained that it "assisted the police to retreat."

At 10 pm, the water cannon vehicle fired blue water spray on the demonstrators on the Second Bridge, and the stars witnessed the front-line demonstrators dyed blue. (Profile picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)

In the chaos and wandering, I am hungry and physically exhausted. / Dangerous I am forging ahead, sleepy I am passionate. / Jinjin shoulders on both shoulders, while the youth, the team moved forward.

Ending: Tears on Bridge Two

After the police withdrew from the middle and large areas, the demonstrators re-entered the Second Bridge. "Many violent adults (Chinese adults) are so happy and excited. Some people hold back and shout, and the words are touched." Xing Xing said, talking about the key to "victory," he said: "Because everyone is really united and cooperative this time, Probably because the police broke into the quiet and sacred university campus. "

H said that he didn't cry because he didn't think it was a victory. "Because we didn't win anything, we didn't take a step forward, but we didn't step back." But at least the Battle of the Second Bridge was held. Large, and for some Chinese and adults, it also holds some value. H is a graduate of Xinya College, and a section of the Xinya School Song sings like this: "In the chaos, in the wandering, I am hungry and physically exhausted. / I struggle hard, I am passionate. / The burden is on both shoulders , While still young, march forward. "

After the demonstrators boarded the Erqiao Bridge, they began to set up roadblocks on the Erqiao Bridge. Later, many people worried that the police would break into the Erqiao again, and did not dare to leave. Some people stayed up all night. In the early morning of the 13th, when the first rays of sunlight were sprinkled on the Erqiao, H and Xingxing saw that Zhongda gradually calmed down and left. "If something happens to CUHK, I will definitely come back!" They said inadvertently.

Many demonstrators feared that the police would invade CUHK again and decided to stay behind. A watchtower was erected on the No. 2 bridge, and a banner on the stage that read "Return to Hong Kong, Revolution of the Times" was hung. (Profile picture / Photo by Yu Junliang)

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