Hong Kong Protest Leaders Announce Hunger Strike

Three prominent leaders of Hong Kong’s protest movement, including 18-year-old Joshua Wong, announced an “indefinite” hunger strike on Monday, shortly after police launched a forceful crackdown against a protest encampment outside of government headquarters in Admiralty.

Wong announced the hunger strike in a joint statement with fellow student leaders Lo Yin-wai and Wong Tsz-yuet.

“Today we are willing to pay the price,” read a statement on the movement’s Facebook page, which was translated by AFP. “We are willing to take the responsibility.”

Local television reports that the students will only drink water until the government agrees to meet with protest leaders. Demonstrators have refused to decamp from the city’s upscale Admiralty district until the government reconsiders an electoral rule that will China to vet candidates for the city’s highest office.

Monday night marked one of the most violent clashes to date between protesters and police.