Hong Kong Protesters Fold Their Tents

                                              Hong Kong Cleanup (Wikimedia)

Police moved in and cleared the last of the Hong Kong protesters on Thursday 11 December. Police arrested 200 people, while a reported 800 people were detained and released the following day. It was over after 75 days. Workers cleared barricades and cleaned up. Life went back to normal. The question is what was accomplished? The Beijing government did not back down on its decision to vet candidates for the 2017 elections. On the whole, Hong Kong police acted with restraint and there was no loss of life on either side. So what was accomplished? Is this a complicated situation or very simple? Will protests take place again next year, or will students and opponents switch tactics? Can any compromise be reached before 2017? Please log in and give us your thoughts.