It now takes a team of six armed riot police officers to clear away one stray push cart in Hong Kong.

Another mass detention underway, on Queens Road East.

What we're seeing in Hong Kong today is a vivid portrayal of a hugely paranoid state that is acutely aware of its absolute lack legitimacy among the populace. Why else detain dozens of pedestrians at a time, & have heavily armed riot police on seemingly every other street corner?

Tactically, the HK police are countering protesters' Be Water strategy by shutting off the taps, blanketing the city with such force that no sizeable crowd can form. But they must know this is unsustainable. Afterall, dams can hold back water—but also burst w deadly consequence.