When heavily-armored police stormed protesters occupying Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, carefully positioned AP journalists were there to document the violent confrontation that ensued. Photographers and video journalists captured the smoky trails of tear gas canisters lobbed at protesters clutching umbrellas, students rappelling from bridges to waiting motorbikes, an armored vehicle pelted with Molotov cocktails, and students – some bloodied – being taken into custody.
The effort to retake the school and arrest protesters trapped on the campus was beamed to customers around the globe in real-time, putting AP ahead with its photos and live video of a dramatic escalation in the struggle between authorities and those protesting Beijing’s tightening policies toward Hong Kong.
The scoops were the result of months of on-the-ground work by AP visual journalists in Hong Kong, careful planning of how to document the siege and wise use of AP resources around the world.
Hong Kong photographer Kin Cheung stands among pro-democracy protesters during a standoff with riot police in the city’s Lan Kwai Fong district, Oct. 31, 2019.
AP Photo / Kelvin Chan
The team on the ground – photographers Vincent Yu and Kin Cheung of Hong Kong; Han Guan Ng, Beijing; Achmad Ibrahim, Jakarta; and video journalists Raf Wober, Hong Kong; Johnson Lai, Taipei; Dake Kang, Beijing; Andi Jatmiko, Jakarta; and freelancers Katie Tam and Alice Fung – had for days delivered smart coverage around the siege, including a photo gallery documenting protesters’ use of medieval-style weapons. When the team learned that authorities planned to storm the Polytechnic campus on Monday night, they withdrew to safe positions outside the school, moving in after an initial pre-dawn push by police Tuesday to document the violent clashes and hurried escapes that ensued.
Protesters take cover as police fire tear gas in the Kowloon section of Hong Kong, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. As night fell, police tightened a siege on Hong Kong Polytechnic University as hundreds of anti-government protesters trapped inside sought to escape.
AP Photo / Vincent Yu
Riot police move onto the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, early Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. Hong Kong police stormed the campus held by protesters after an all-night standoff.
AP Photo / Vincent Yu
Riot police detain a protester outside Hong Kong Polytechnic University as police stormed protesters occupying the campus, early Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Kin Cheung
Protesters run past burning debris as they flee from police near Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. Hong Kong police swooped in with tear gas and batons as protesters occupying the campus made an apparent last-ditch effort to escape arrest.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
Riot police detain protesters amid clouds of tear gas at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Ng Han Guan
A police officer prepares to fire tear gas canisters during a clash with protesters near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
Riot police detain protesters near Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
Protesters stand on the steps of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
A protester prepares to fire a bow and arrow during a confrontation with police at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019.
AP Photo / Kin Cheung
Desk chairs burn after police stormed Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. Fiery explosions were seen early Monday as Hong Kong police stormed the campus held by protesters after an all-night standoff.
AP Photo / Ng Han Guan
A protester rests at Hong Kong Polytechnic University after police stormed part of the campus, early Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Vincent Yu
A fire burns near the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, early Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. Police stormed the campus occupied by protesters after an all-night siege that included repeated barrages of tear gas and water cannons.
AP Photo / Vincent Yu
Protesters take cover from tear gas fired by police near Hong Kong Polytechnic University after police gave protestors an ultimatum to leave the campus, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. Police launched a late-night operation Sunday in an effort to flush about 200 protesters from the campus.
AP Photo / Vincent Yu
Smoke engulfs protesters on a bridge over a highway leading to the Cross Harbour Tunnel in Hong Kong, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. A Hong Kong police officer was hit in the leg by an arrow Sunday as authorities used tear gas and water cannons to try to drive back protesters occupying a university campus and blocking a major road tunnel under the city’s harbor.
AP Photo / Vincent Yu
Protestors hurl Molotov cocktails as armored police vehicles approach their barricades on a bridge over a highway leading to the Cross Harbour Tunnel in Hong Kong, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019.
AP Photo / Kin Cheung
A protestor bangs a metal rod on a street sign during a confrontation with police at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019.
AP Photo / Kin Cheung
Tear gas fired by police drifts around protesters occupying Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, as overnight clashes resumed in the morning.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
Protesters take cover as water is sprayed from an armored police vehicle at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. Authorities used tear gas and water cannons to try to drive back protesters occupying the campus and surrounding streets.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
Protesters use a rope to lower themselves from a pedestrian bridge to waiting motorbikes in order to escape from police who were tightening their siege of protesters occupying Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Monday, Nov. 18, 2019.
AP Photo / Kin Cheung
Police in riot gear fire tear gas at protesters near Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
A statue of Sun Yat-sen, widely regarded as the founding father of modern China, is dressed with a helmet and mask at Hong Kong Polytechnic University as protesters occupied the campus, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Most of the anti-government protesters abandoned their occupation of Hong Kong’s universities Saturday, while small contingents remained and kept a major cross-harbor tunnel closed.
AP Photo / Ng Han Guan
A woman tries to hold back riot police from approaching Hong Kong University, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Most anti-government protesters had abandoned their occupation of Hong Kong’s universities Saturday, while the small contingents remained and some kept a major cross-harbor tunnel closed.
AP Photo / Ng Han Guan
A man walks past bricks scattered as a road barricade by protesters near City University of Hong Kong, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019.
AP Photo / Achmad Ibrahim
As protesters and police clashed, live video with both LiveU units and cell phones were beamed to London. Sky News and ABC used the feeds, and AP producers cut quick edits that beat competitors. The use of four live feeds gave broadcasters a variety of angles and drove AP’s text reporting as well. One senior editor likened the broad range of video content to coverage of a major sporting event.
Meanwhile, the systems of photo editing and delivery had been honed over months of protest coverage, with photo editors in other countries handling select images from photographers and relaying them on AP’s circuits.
Orchestrated by Deputy News Director Patrick Quinn, AP’s visuals were shot from various vantage points – from inside and outside of the campus – to tell the comprehensive story throughout the day. More than a dozen newspapers, including The Washington Post and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, carried AP photos on their front pages.
Local knowledge has been another key to the AP’s success during the ongoing story. Yu, Cheung, Wober, Fung and Tam all call Hong Kong home and have experience covering previous protests there. As Asia News Director Adam Schreck notes, “They want the story of their city told, and told well, and have been working tirelessly to do so.”
A demonstrator holding a Molotov cocktail, center, stands behind Hong Kong photographer Vincent Yu, in grey helmet, right, as he prepares to throw the device at the Tsim Sha Tsui police station during a protest in Hong Kong, Oct. 20, 2019.
AP Photo / Mark Schiefelbein
Safety of the journalists has been paramount, with the team being outfitted in helmets, gas masks and high-visibility “PRESS” vests to keep them safe. Staffers Yu, Cheung and Wober have covered the protests daily for months, while other journalists from the region have been rotated in to assist. Remarkably, none have been seriously injured despite an escalation in the response to the protests.
For smart planning and excellent execution to document a chaotic story with breathtaking speed and depth, the visuals team covering the Hong Kong protests wins AP’s Best of the Week.