This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-29054196

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Who are Hong Kong's protesters? Why is Hong Kong protesting?
(about 5 hours later)
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Hong Kong in defiance of tear gas and government warnings. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Hong Kong in defiance of tear gas and government warnings. The BBC explains who is behind the movement, and why.
Campaigns by students and pro-democracy activists ballooned into mass protests. They have been angered by the Chinese government's ruling limiting who could stand as a candidate in elections for Hong Kong's leader, due in 2017. Why are people in Hong Kong so angry?
The demonstrations have been denounced by China. Hong Kong has not seen a protest on this scale for years.
Who is out on the streets? Those out on the streets have been angered by the Chinese government's ruling limiting who could stand as a candidate in elections for Hong Kong's leader, due in 2017.
At the heart of this protest is a civil disobedience movement launched by democracy activists, Occupy Central with Love and Peace, known as Occupy Central. At the heart of this is a civil disobedience movement launched by democracy activists Occupy Central. When China made its ruling, Occupy Central promised demonstrations.
After China's electoral ruling it set a date of 1 October to begin demonstrations. Then students began a separate class boycott and protest in the name of democracy in late September. When they broke into the main government compound on Friday, Occupy kicked off its campaign early. Then students in Hong Kong began a separate class boycott in late September and when they broke into the main government compound on Friday, Occupy kicked off its campaign early.
Since then ordinary Hong Kong residents have also taken to the streets in spontaneous action, even defying requests from Occupy to disperse once tear gas was used by police. What lit the fuse?
Tens of thousands have been on the streets, mostly young, but pensioners and young families have also been seen among those demonstrating. It was always unclear exactly how much support Occupy Central could count on. They say that when the demonstrations began a spontaneous outpouring helped boost crowds.
Could protests change China's mind? Tens of thousands of ordinary Hong Kong residents have taken to the streets, mostly young, but pensioners and young families have also been seen among those protesting.
Occupy Central say there is no single group in charge of the protests and that people refused to disperse even when they asked them to after the police let off teargas canisters.
How violent could it get?
Hong Kong rallies are generally peaceful and well-organised. But as Hong Kong's politics has become more polarised so protests have become more confrontational.
Most witnesses report a peaceful and co-operative atmosphere, but tear gas has already been deployed so much may also depend on how the police responds to the crowds.
Occupy Central insists it is a non-violent movement, but the rapid growth of the student-led campaign could also change the dynamic.
Might protests change China's mind?
Before these protests began, activists admitted the movement was unlikely to sway China.Before these protests began, activists admitted the movement was unlikely to sway China.
Public protests play an important role in Hong Kong. Locals have free speech and the right to protest, even though they cannot directly elect their government.Public protests play an important role in Hong Kong. Locals have free speech and the right to protest, even though they cannot directly elect their government.
And they have used this right to effect in the past. A controversial national security law known as Article 23 was proposed in 2002, but dropped after large protests the following year. More recently, the government was forced into a U-turn on "patriotic education" classes.And they have used this right to effect in the past. A controversial national security law known as Article 23 was proposed in 2002, but dropped after large protests the following year. More recently, the government was forced into a U-turn on "patriotic education" classes.
The size and passion of these protests have taken observers by surprise, but the demands strike at the very heart of the nature of Beijing's authority.The size and passion of these protests have taken observers by surprise, but the demands strike at the very heart of the nature of Beijing's authority.
Demanding full democracy would radically change how Hong Kong is governed and China is unlikely to cave in on this - it would be seen as a dangerous precedent.Demanding full democracy would radically change how Hong Kong is governed and China is unlikely to cave in on this - it would be seen as a dangerous precedent.
How violent could it get? Does everyone agree with the protesters?
Hong Kong rallies are frequent and generally peaceful and well-organised. But as Hong Kong's politics has become more polarised so protests have become more confrontational. No. There is a large spectrum of opinion in Hong Kong which analysts say appears increasingly polarised.
And there is no single group in control of the protest movement on the streets right now.
Most witnesses report a peaceful and co-operative atmosphere, but tear gas has already been deployed so much may also depend on how the police responds to the crowds.
Occupy Central insists it is a non-violent movement, but the rapid growth of the student-led campaign that has already seen the government complex stormed could also change the dynamic.
What do Hong Kong people think?
There is a large spectrum of opinion in Hong Kong which analysts say appears increasingly polarised.
The campaigners and protesters want political reform and democratic elections that meet international standards.The campaigners and protesters want political reform and democratic elections that meet international standards.
But Hong Kong is also a business-minded city, and many will be reluctant to take part in civil disobedience, or anger Beijing, fearing it could hurt the economy.But Hong Kong is also a business-minded city, and many will be reluctant to take part in civil disobedience, or anger Beijing, fearing it could hurt the economy.
Who are the key players?Who are the key players?
Occupy Central's leaders - law professor Benny Tai, sociologist Chan Kin-man and church minister Yiu-ming - are seen as moderate pro-democracy figures. Occupy Central have led the way in campaigning for more direct democracy. Its leaders - law professor Benny Tai, sociologist Chan Kin-man and church minister Yiu-ming - are seen as moderate pro-democracy figures.
The group is supported by many political parties in Hong Kong's pan-democratic camp. Some backed softer reforms, but China's restrictions on who could stand for election only served to unify them. It is supported by many political parties in Hong Kong's pan-democratic camp.
In the last few weeks student leaders like Alex Chow and Lester Shum have come to the fore. Joshua Wong who was at the helm of the campaign against "patriotic education" is also a force in these latest protests. But in the last few weeks student leaders like Alex Chow and Lester Shum have come to the fore. Joshua Wong who was at the helm of the campaign against "patriotic education" and is also a force in these latest protests.
All three were arrested as the student demonstrations erupted but have since been released. All three were arrested as the student demonstrations erupted but have since been released.
Pro-Beijing and pro-business parties tend to be against the campaign, and several anti-Occupy Central groups have also been set up. They claim to own the silent majority.Pro-Beijing and pro-business parties tend to be against the campaign, and several anti-Occupy Central groups have also been set up. They claim to own the silent majority.
What are China's biggest fears?What are China's biggest fears?
China 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 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.
The fury in state media is palpable. It has accused "external forces" of meddling in Hong Kong's affairs and encouraging "separatist sentiments".The fury in state media is palpable. It has accused "external forces" of meddling in Hong Kong's affairs and encouraging "separatist sentiments".
There has also been speculation over whether China would get involved in a crackdown. That would almost certainly be seen as an absolute last resort, given the likely international and business repercussions.There has also been speculation over whether China would get involved in a crackdown. That would almost certainly be seen as an absolute last resort, given the likely international and business repercussions.
What happens now? The demonstrations have been denounced by China.
So what happens now?
The protesters show no sign of leaving at the moment.
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 lawmakers, who hold enough seats for a veto, have said that they will vote down any proposal based on China's ruling.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 lawmakers, 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.Before any of this, however, it needs to find a way out of the current impasse on the streets.