Democracy protests in Hong Kong look set to continue, with neither the government nor the protesters willing to budge. The Hong Kong government and Beijing’s patient strategy of waiting for the protests to “die a slow death” is being severely tested: while the its momentum has slowed and the number of protesters dwindled, the movement is not at risk of dying anytime soon.

Indications of a rethink in the “slow death” strategy have surfaced in recent days. For example, despite the public backlash against the use of tear gas against unarmed protesters at the onset of the protests, Hong Kong police have, in recent days, been increasingly willing to use force as the protests become increasing entrenched. Footage from October 15 of police officers taking turns to beat an unarmed protester in a secluded spot, with the protester’s arms tied behind his back, is one of the most troubling examples of the new violence being employed.

…Dylan Loh Ming Hui is a research analyst with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.