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| Hong Kong: Tear gas and clashes at democracy protest | Hong Kong: Tear gas and clashes at democracy protest |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Hong Kong police have used tear gas to disperse thousands of pro-democracy protesters near the government complex, after a week of escalating tensions. | |
| Hundreds of demonstrators remained in the city centre on Sunday evening. | |
| Protesters want the Chinese government to scrap rules allowing it to vet Hong Kong's top leader in the 2017 poll. | Protesters want the Chinese government to scrap rules allowing it to vet Hong Kong's top leader in the 2017 poll. |
| Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said the demonstration was "illegal" and elections would go ahead as planned. China has also condemned the protest. | |
| In his first public statement since the protests began, Mr Leung also added that consultations would continue. | In his first public statement since the protests began, Mr Leung also added that consultations would continue. |
| He said he and his government had "been listening attentively to members of [the] public". But, he said, "resolute" action would be taken against the "illegal demonstration". | He said he and his government had "been listening attentively to members of [the] public". But, he said, "resolute" action would be taken against the "illegal demonstration". |
| Regrouping | |
| Protesters blocked a busy road on Sunday, clashing with police as they tried to join a mass sit-in outside government headquarters. | Protesters blocked a busy road on Sunday, clashing with police as they tried to join a mass sit-in outside government headquarters. |
| Police used pepper spray and shot tear gas into the air to drive back the protesters, who defended themselves with umbrellas and face masks. | |
| As evening fell, the police lobbed tear gas canisters into the crowd, scattering some of the protesters. | As evening fell, the police lobbed tear gas canisters into the crowd, scattering some of the protesters. |
| But the BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong said that instead of going home, many of the demonstrators regrouped and retreated to a nearby park. | |
| The scene is currently much more peaceful compared to the chaos seen a few hours before, she adds. | |
| Thousands joined a sit-in outside government headquarters this weekend, bolstering a week-old protest, which began as a strike by students calling for democratic reforms. | Thousands joined a sit-in outside government headquarters this weekend, bolstering a week-old protest, which began as a strike by students calling for democratic reforms. |
| On Saturday night, the leader of Occupy Central, another protest movement, brought forward a planned action to merge it with the sit-in by the students outside the central government building. | On Saturday night, the leader of Occupy Central, another protest movement, brought forward a planned action to merge it with the sit-in by the students outside the central government building. |
| A statement by the movement said Mr Leung had "failed to deliver on political reform". | A statement by the movement said Mr Leung had "failed to deliver on political reform". |
| The protesters had also called for further talks but it is not clear how far - if at all - Mr Leung's mention of further consultations will be seen as recognising their demands. | The protesters had also called for further talks but it is not clear how far - if at all - Mr Leung's mention of further consultations will be seen as recognising their demands. |
| Faith Kwek, a 19-year-old student protester, said Mr Leung's "words are just words". | Faith Kwek, a 19-year-old student protester, said Mr Leung's "words are just words". |
| "I don't think myself or any of the protesters will give in until we see bigger progress in the form of action from him. We don't want our country to surrender to China." | "I don't think myself or any of the protesters will give in until we see bigger progress in the form of action from him. We don't want our country to surrender to China." |
| A spokesman for China's Hong Kong and Macau affairs office said that Beijing "firmly opposes all illegal activities that could undermine rule of law and jeopardise 'social tranquillity' and it offers its strong backing" to the Hong Kong government, Xinhua news agency reports. | |
| Wider campaign | Wider campaign |
| Occupy Central had originally planned to paralyse the central business district next Wednesday, but organisers advanced the protest and changed the location in an apparent bid to harness momentum from student protests outside the government complex. | Occupy Central had originally planned to paralyse the central business district next Wednesday, but organisers advanced the protest and changed the location in an apparent bid to harness momentum from student protests outside the government complex. |
| Student activists had stormed into a courtyard of the complex late on Friday and scuffled with police using pepper spray. | Student activists had stormed into a courtyard of the complex late on Friday and scuffled with police using pepper spray. |
| Police said they made more than 60 arrests including prominent student activist leader Joshua Wong. | Police said they made more than 60 arrests including prominent student activist leader Joshua Wong. |
| The BBC's Juliana Liu says that thousands had arrived spontaneously to support the demonstration by students. | The BBC's Juliana Liu says that thousands had arrived spontaneously to support the demonstration by students. |
| However, some students expressed unease that their protest was apparently being taken over by Occupy Central. | However, some students expressed unease that their protest was apparently being taken over by Occupy Central. |
| "A lot of students left as soon as Occupy made the announcement they were starting their occupation," said university graduate Vito Leung, 24. | "A lot of students left as soon as Occupy made the announcement they were starting their occupation," said university graduate Vito Leung, 24. |
| "I think they were really forcing it. This was always a separate student movement with similar goals but different directions. I don't think it should be brought together like this." | "I think they were really forcing it. This was always a separate student movement with similar goals but different directions. I don't think it should be brought together like this." |
| Unrest began when the Chinese government announced that candidates for the 2017 chief executive election would first have to be approved by a nominating committee. | Unrest began when the Chinese government announced that candidates for the 2017 chief executive election would first have to be approved by a nominating committee. |
| Activists have argued that this does not amount to true democracy. | Activists have argued that this does not amount to true democracy. |
| At least 34 people have been injured since the protests began, including four police officers and 11 government staff and guards, authorities said. | At least 34 people have been injured since the protests began, including four police officers and 11 government staff and guards, authorities said. |
| Hong Kong democracy timeline | Hong Kong democracy timeline |
| Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy | Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy |
| Are you in Hong Kong? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Have you taken part in the protests? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Hong Kong? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Have you taken part in the protests? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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