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| Hong Kong: Streets blocked as pro-democracy protests spread | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people have remained on the streets of Hong Kong for another day of pro-democracy protests, defying tear gas and ignoring appeals to leave. | |
| Overnight, riot police advanced on crowds who ignored official warnings that the demonstrations were illegal. | Overnight, riot police advanced on crowds who ignored official warnings that the demonstrations were illegal. |
| Protesters are angry at Chinese government plans to vet candidates in Hong Kong's 2017 elections. | Protesters are angry at Chinese government plans to vet candidates in Hong Kong's 2017 elections. |
| Hong Kong's chief executive reassured the public that rumours the Chinese army might intervene were untrue. | Hong Kong's chief executive reassured the public that rumours the Chinese army might intervene were untrue. |
| "I hope the public will keep calm. Don't be misled by the rumours," CY Leung said. | "I hope the public will keep calm. Don't be misled by the rumours," CY Leung said. |
| "Police will strive to maintain social order, including ensuring smooth traffic and ensuring public safety." | "Police will strive to maintain social order, including ensuring smooth traffic and ensuring public safety." |
| Thousands of protesters remained camped out around the government complex overnight, despite appeals for them to go home. Many have erected barricades. | Thousands of protesters remained camped out around the government complex overnight, despite appeals for them to go home. Many have erected barricades. |
| And in a sign that the unrest was spreading, fresh demonstrations sprang up in other areas. | And in a sign that the unrest was spreading, fresh demonstrations sprang up in other areas. |
| About 3,000 people blocked a major road across the bay in Mongkok while a crowd of about 1,000 faced a line of riot police in the busy shopping district of Causeway Bay, east of central Hong Kong. | About 3,000 people blocked a major road across the bay in Mongkok while a crowd of about 1,000 faced a line of riot police in the busy shopping district of Causeway Bay, east of central Hong Kong. |
| Ahead of rush-hour on Monday, police issued a statement urging protesters to "stay calm, stop charging police cordon lines and occupying the main roads". | |
| The Hong Kong Education Bureau also announced on Monday that schools in Wan Chai as well as the Central and Western districts would be closed. | The Hong Kong Education Bureau also announced on Monday that schools in Wan Chai as well as the Central and Western districts would be closed. |
| In other developments: | |
| Police have so far used batons, tear gas and pepper spray against demonstrators, with varying degrees of success. | Police have so far used batons, tear gas and pepper spray against demonstrators, with varying degrees of success. |
| However, protest leaders have called on demonstrators to retreat if rubber bullets are used. | However, protest leaders have called on demonstrators to retreat if rubber bullets are used. |
| "This is a matter of life or death. If their lives are threatened they should retreat and save their lives," said professor Chan Kin-man, a co-founder of the Occupy Central group. | "This is a matter of life or death. If their lives are threatened they should retreat and save their lives," said professor Chan Kin-man, a co-founder of the Occupy Central group. |
| The broader Occupy Central protest movement threw its weight behind student-led protests on Sunday, bringing forward a mass civil disobedience campaign due to start on Wednesday. | The broader Occupy Central protest movement threw its weight behind student-led protests on Sunday, bringing forward a mass civil disobedience campaign due to start on Wednesday. |
| In a statement on Monday, the movement called on Mr Leung to step down, saying "only this will make it possible to re-launch the political reform process and create a space in which the crisis can be defused". | |
| China, which stations a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Hong Kong, said it was confident the city's administration could handle the protests. | China, which stations a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Hong Kong, said it was confident the city's administration could handle the protests. |
| 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. | 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. |
| However, analysts say Communist Party leaders in Beijing are worried that calls for democracy could spread to cities on the mainland. | However, analysts say Communist Party leaders in Beijing are worried that calls for democracy could spread to cities on the mainland. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Hong Kong democracy timeline | Hong Kong democracy timeline |
| Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy | Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy |