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| Hong Kong: Protesters defiant amid stand-off | Hong Kong: Protesters defiant amid stand-off |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of pro-democracy protesters are blocking Hong Kong's streets, shutting down the territory's business hub and ignoring appeals to leave. | Thousands of pro-democracy protesters are blocking Hong Kong's streets, shutting down the territory's business hub and ignoring appeals to leave. |
| Crowds remained on the streets overnight after a day that saw riot police deploy tear gas and batons in a bid to disperse them. | |
| On Monday, the Hong Kong government said riot police were being withdrawn as people had "mostly calmed down". | On Monday, the Hong Kong government said riot police were being withdrawn as people had "mostly calmed down". |
| But some banks and schools were closed, and there was transport chaos. | But some banks and schools were closed, and there was transport chaos. |
| Protesters are angry at Beijing's plans to vet candidates in Hong Kong's 2017 elections. | Protesters are angry at Beijing's plans to vet candidates in Hong Kong's 2017 elections. |
| Hong Kong's chief executive has reassured the public that rumours the Chinese army might intervene were untrue. | Hong Kong's chief executive has 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. |
| Sunday saw angry scenes on Hong Kong's streets as protesters faced riot police. | Sunday saw angry scenes on Hong Kong's streets as protesters faced riot police. |
| Thousands of people remained camped out around the government complex overnight. Many have erected barricades. | |
| About 3,000 people have also blocked a major road across the bay in Mongkok while a crowd of about 1,000 faced 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". | 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: | In other developments: |
| 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". | 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. |
| Celia Hatton: The view from Beijing | |
| China's leaders must be sitting uncomfortably in Beijing. The central government has expressed its belief that the Hong Kong police will be able to handle the "illegal" protests there. However, this hands-off policy must be creating great anxiety in the capital. | |
| As long as the protests continue, there is a chance they will spread to the mainland, where many are unhappy with one-party rule. The Chinese government is taking clear steps to limit information about events in Hong Kong by censoring internet search terms and forums discussions. | |
| But if the protesters hold their ground, how far will Beijing allow events to spiral before getting directly involved? | |
| The sight of Chinese troops confronting Hong Kong protestors, particularly students, would be a disaster for Beijing, leading to an international outcry. Beijing could revisit the dark days following its violent response to 1989's Tiananmen protests. | |
| So, for now, Chinese leaders face an unusual set of political constraints. The Communist Party is unwilling to cede political control to the people of Hong Kong by refusing to allow direct elections in 2017. As a result, the party is putting its faith in the abilities of the Hong Kong police to deal with the fall-out from that decision. | |
| 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. |
| In an editorial, state mouthpiece Global Times said the mainland felt "sorrow over the chaos in Hong Kong" which it blamed on "radical opposition forces". | In an editorial, state mouthpiece Global Times said the mainland felt "sorrow over the chaos in Hong Kong" which it blamed on "radical opposition forces". |
| Analysts say Communist Party leaders in Beijing are worried that calls for democracy could spread to cities on the mainland. | 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 |
| Are you in Hong Kong? Have you been affected by recent events? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in Hong Kong? Have you been affected by recent events? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |