News Detail
Hong Kong protests: Leader CY Leung urges crowds to leave
Hong Kong leader CY Leung has urged pro-democracy protesters to "immediately" stop their campaign, as huge crowds continue to bring parts of the territory to a standstill.
On Monday night, tens of thousands blocked streets, singing and chanting. The protesters want Beijing to give Hong Kong a free vote for its next leader, something Beijing has rejected. By Tuesday streets were relatively quiet but crowds are expected to swell for the eve of Chinese National Day.
Over the weekend police used tear gas and pepper spray, but riot police have since been withdrawn and protesters remain calm. However, key parts of the city are being blocked by protesters, with some schools and banks closed. The protesters want Mr Leung, the chief executive, to step down. But he appeared to reject this, saying such a move would represent a step backwards.
"Any personnel change before the implementation of universal suffrage is achieved would only allow Hong Kong to continue to pick its leader under the Election Committee model," he said. He also called on the protesters - a mix of students, supporters of the pro-democracy Occupy Central group and others - to go home.
"Occupy Central founders had said repeatedly that if the movement is getting out of control, they would call for it to stop," Mr Leung said. "I'm now asking them to fulfil the promise they made to society, and stop this campaign immediately." At the scene: Saira Asher, BBC News, Hong Kong.
Thousands of pro-democracy protesters spent the night on the street near Admiralty in Hong Kong's Central district. Some were propped up against barricades, others stretched out in the middle of a major road. After a strong show last night the crowds have trickled out this morning as people go to work or home to take care of household chores. But they say they will be back tonight when numbers are expected to swell. This has been the routine now for two days. The crowds diminish in the day but return in full force in the evening and stay the night.
The morning is being spent mostly removing rubbish left over from last night's huge crowd. Students are picking up cigarette butts and plastic bottles, others are distributing breakfast buns. That is why those on the street are being called "the politest protesters" by some on social media.
But they are on edge. At one point in the middle of the night everyone suddenly stood up and started pulling on masks. It turned out to be just a changing of the guard for the handful of police scattered around here, but the sudden fear was palpable. 'Condemned by history'
Beijing ruled last month that Hong Kong people can elect their next leader in 2017, compared to 2012 when he was chosen by a committee. But the choice of candidates will be restricted to two or three people who must be approved by the majority of a pro-Beijing committee - meaning Beijing can effectively screen candidates.
In Hong Kong, further consultations had been due to take place on the ruling but on Monday a senior official said these would be postponed until a "better time". In its latest statement, Occupy Central accused the government of "delay tactics", saying it believed the government was "just hoping people's desire for genuine universal suffrage to fade out over time".
Occupy also repeated calls for Mr Leung's resignation, saying he would be "condemned by the history of democratic development in Hong Kong".At the moment protesters have been blocking roads in at least three parts of the territory. On Tuesday morning numbers had dwindled as some headed for work or school. But Wednesday marks Chinese National Day - a holiday that makes the founding of Communist China - and most expect more crowds out on Hong Kong's streets this evening.
In other developments:
A man was arrested after he drove his car at protesters in Mong Kok in the early hours of Tuesday. No reason was given for the incident In the US, a White House spokesman urged Hong Kong authorities to "exercise restraint" and protesters to "express their views peacefully".
On Monday, the British government called for the right to protest to be protected and for protesters to exercise their right within the law.
Not everyone in Hong Kong backs the protests, however. Some fear the ongoing demonstrations could affect Hong Kong's relationship with Beijing or hit the economy of the financial hub. China has described the demonstrations as illegal and urged the Hong Kong government to bring them under control.
News of the protests is being heavily censored in mainland China. Media have blamed "radical opposition forces" for stirring up trouble. Analysts say Communist Party leaders in Beijing are worried that calls for democracy could spread to cities on the mainland, putting them in a very difficult position. Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that guarantees liberties not seen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and the right to protest. (BBC)
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