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What is Hong Kong's Occupy Central movement? Who are Hong Kong's protesters?
(7 days later)
Tensions are high in Hong Kong amid a row about how the city's leader should be elected. Tensions are high in Hong Kong amid a row about how the city's leader should be elected, with thousands taking to the streets in defiance of tear gas and government warnings.
Elections are due in 2017 - but the Chinese government has issued a ruling limiting who can stand as a candidate. Democracy campaigners are planning to occupy the city's business district in protest - a move denounced by China. The BBC explains the movement. Elections are due in 2017 - but the Chinese government has issued a ruling limiting who can stand as a candidate. Campaigns by students and pro-democracy activists ballooned into mass protests over the weekend. The demonstrations have been denounced by China. The BBC explains what is happening.
What does Occupy Central want? Who are the protesters?
Occupy Central with Love and Peace, known as Occupy Central, is a civil disobedience movement proposed by democracy activists in Hong Kong. At the heart of it is a civil disobedience movement launched by democracy activists, Occupy Central with Love and Peace, known as Occupy Central. It had been promising protests for months if Beijing's movement on electoral reform did not go far enough.
The campaigners want political reform and democratic elections that meet international standards.The campaigners want political reform and democratic elections that meet international standards.
They are planning a non-violent occupation of the business district, Central, in response to the Chinese government's ruling against open elections in 2017. Occupy Central had said a mass non-violent campaign would begin on 1 October in response to Beijing's ruling against fully open elections in 2017. But it brought its protests forward in response to student-led demonstrations over the weekend outside Hong Kong's government headquarters.
They have said they can mobilise 10,000 in the first phase of the sit-in. So who are the students?
The campaign takes its name from the US's Occupy Wall Street movement against social inequality in 2011. University students began a separate pro-democracy protest on 22 September. They started with a boycott of classes and their ranks were swelled later in the week at protest sites by crowds of school students.
On Friday student demonstrators invaded the main government compound and tensions escalated. As numbers swelled, Occupy Central kicked off its campaign early.
Hong Kong is under Chinese rule - can protests realistically make a difference?Hong Kong is under Chinese rule - can protests realistically make a difference?
Even the movement's organisers admit that Occupy Central is highly unlikely to sway the Chinese government. Before these protests began, organisers of Occupy Central admitted the movement was highly unlikely to sway the Chinese government.
However, public protests play an important role in Hong Kong. Locals have free speech and the right to protest, but cannot directly elect their government. Many see taking to the streets as their way of forcing change. Public protests play an important role in Hong Kong. Locals have free speech and the right to protest, but cannot directly elect their government. Many see taking to the streets as their way of forcing change.
Some demonstrations have succeeded. A controversial national security law known as Article 23 was proposed in 2002, but dropped after large protests. The government also backed down over "patriotic education" classes following rallies against the move. Some demonstrations have succeeded. A controversial national security law known as Article 23 was proposed in 2002, but dropped after large protests. The government also backed down over "patriotic education" classes following rallies against the move.
Occupy Central's demands, however, are more sensitive. Demanding full democracy would radically change how Hong Kong is governed, and Beijing would view it as a direct challenge to its own authority. These demonstrations are larger and more passionate than expected. But the protesters are demanding major - and highly sensitive - concessions from Beijing.
Could there be violence? Demanding full democracy would radically change how Hong Kong is governed, and Beijing would view it as a direct challenge to its own authority.
Organisers insist Occupy Central will be non-violent. How violent could it get?
Rallies frequently take place in Hong Kong, and are generally peaceful and well-organised.Rallies frequently take place in Hong Kong, and are generally peaceful and well-organised.
But protests have become more confrontational over the years, as Hong Kong's politics have become polarised. In recent years, there have been some clashes between pro-democracy and pro-Beijing demonstrators. Protesters have attempted to storm government buildings.But protests have become more confrontational over the years, as Hong Kong's politics have become polarised. In recent years, there have been some clashes between pro-democracy and pro-Beijing demonstrators. Protesters have attempted to storm government buildings.
In July, 500 people were arrested for illegal assembly after staging a pro-democracy sit-in that was viewed as a rehearsal for Occupy Central. The protest was non-violent, although some people sustained light injuries when police removed them from the site. Organisers insist Occupy Central is a non-violent movement. But critics are concerned the organisers will not be able to control the crowd. And the rapid growth of the student-led campaign that has already seen the government complex stormed could change the dynamic.
Some critics are concerned the organisers will not be able to control the crowd.
What do Hong Kong people think?What do Hong Kong people think?
There is a large spectrum of opinion. Protests organised by pro-democracy activists, and pro-government groups, have both drawn tens of thousands - although pro-government protests are less common, and local media have reported that some people were paid to attend. There is a large spectrum of opinion. In recent months protests organised by pro-democracy and pro-government groups have both drawn tens of thousands.
Hong Kong is a business-minded city, and many will be reluctant to take part in civil disobedience, or anger Beijing, fearing it could hurt the economy. Some argue that law-makers should accept China's proposal as the pragmatic option. Hong Kong is a business-minded city, and many will be reluctant to take part in civil disobedience, or anger Beijing, fearing it could hurt the economy. Some argue that lawmakers should accept China's proposal as the pragmatic option.
However, a significant number of people do want more democracy, and have expressed anger at the China's ruling, arguing that it offers no real choice. However, a significant number of people do want more democracy, and have expressed anger at China's ruling, arguing that it offers no real choice.
Who are the key players?Who are the key players?
The main organisers supporting the movement are Benny Tai, a law professor, Chan Kin-man, a sociology professor and Chu Yiu-ming, a church minister. They are regarded as comparatively moderate pro-democracy figures. The main organisers supporting the Occupy Central movement are Benny Tai, a law professor, Chan Kin-man, a sociology professor and Chu Yiu-ming, a church minister. They are regarded as comparatively moderate pro-democracy figures.
The movement is supported by many political parties in Hong Kong's pan-democratic camp, as well as student groups. The supporters have not always been united - some had urged softer reforms less likely to antagonise Beijing. The movement is supported by many political parties in Hong Kong's pan-democratic camp. The supporters have not always been united - some had backed softer reforms less likely to antagonise Beijing. But China's ruling in August united many supporters, who have described the restrictions on who can stand as a candidate as undemocratic and unacceptable.
However, China's ruling now appears to have united many supporters, who have described the restrictions on who can stand as a candidate as undemocratic and unacceptable. In the student camp, Alex Chow and Lester Shum lead the Hong Kong Federation of Students. Joshua Wong leads the Scholarism movement, which campaigned two years again against "patriotic education". All three were arrested as the student protests erupted but have since been released.
Key players against the movement include mainland China and Hong Kong government officials, who have spoken out against Occupy Central.Key players against the movement include mainland China and Hong Kong government officials, who have spoken out against Occupy Central.
Pro-Beijing and pro-business parties tend to be against the campaign, and several anti-Occupy Central groups have also been set up.Pro-Beijing and pro-business parties tend to be against the campaign, and several anti-Occupy Central groups have also been set up.
What is China worried about?What is China worried about?
The Chinese Communist Party does not want any movement that could be perceived as a challenge to its authority. President Xi Jinping has consolidated power since taking office in 2013, and appears to have adopted a harder line against dissent. The Chinese Communist Party does not want any movement that could be perceived as a challenge to its authority. Nor does it want a pro-democracy campaign spreading from Hong Kong to the mainland.
China has been concerned by growing political tensions and anti-mainland-Chinese sentiment in Hong Kong. State media have accused "external forces" of meddling in Hong Kong's affairs and encouraging "separatist sentiments". State media have accused "external forces" of meddling in Hong Kong's affairs and encouraging "separatist sentiments".
There has been speculation over whether China would get involved in a crackdown on Occupy Central, if it is not satisfied with how it is handled by local authorities. However, it is thought that China would view this as an absolute last resort, given the likely international and business repercussions.There has been speculation over whether China would get involved in a crackdown on Occupy Central, if it is not satisfied with how it is handled by local authorities. However, it is thought that China would view this as an absolute last resort, given the likely international and business repercussions.
What happens next?What happens next?
Organisers say plans for the sit-in will be announced over the coming weeks. To enable direct elections in 2017, the Hong Kong government will have to present a political reform plan to Hong Kong's lawmaking body, the Legislative Council, for a vote. Pro-democracy lawmakers, who hold enough seats for a veto, have said that they will vote down any proposal based on China's ruling.
The Hong Kong Federation of Students is organising a week-long boycott of classes in protest against China's ruling. Several universities have indicated that students will not be penalised for missing classes or taking part in Occupy Central.
To enable direct elections in 2017, the Hong Kong government will have to present a political reform plan to Hong Kong's law-making body, the Legislative Council, for a vote. Pro-democracy law-makers, who hold enough seats for a veto, have said that they will vote down any proposal based on China's ruling.
If the proposal is voted down, Hong Kong will be unable to implement universal suffrage, and its elections are expected to proceed as before, with a committee of 1,200 mostly pro-Beijing figures selecting the leader.If the proposal is voted down, Hong Kong will be unable to implement universal suffrage, and its elections are expected to proceed as before, with a committee of 1,200 mostly pro-Beijing figures selecting the leader.
Before any of this, however, it needs to find a way out of the current impasse on the streets.