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Hong Kong stages huge National Day democracy protests Hong Kong stages huge National Day democracy protests
(35 minutes later)
Thousands have joined pro-democracy protests in central Hong Kong, as they spread on China's 65th National Day.Thousands have joined pro-democracy protests in central Hong Kong, as they spread on China's 65th National Day.
The protesters want China to withdraw plans to vet candidates for the next Hong Kong leadership election in 2017.The protesters want China to withdraw plans to vet candidates for the next Hong Kong leadership election in 2017.
Hong Kong's chief executive CY Leung urged them to back electoral reforms set out by Beijing. He was heckled by some protesters, who turned their backs when the national anthem was played. Hong Kong leader CY Leung was heckled as he addressed a flag-raising ceremony, where he urged them to back electoral reforms set out by Beijing.
China says it will "safeguard Hong Kong's prosperity and stability". A student protest leader has said they will occupy government buildings if Mr Leung does not resign by Thursday.
Protesters have gathered at the main protests site in the Central business district, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. Lester Shum, of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, told reporters there was "no room for dialogue" with Hong Kong's chief executive after he ordered police to fire tear gas at demonstrators at the weekend.
Mr Shum said student leaders would welcome an opportunity to speak with a Chinese central government official, but not with Mr Leung, who has so far rejected campaigners' calls for him to stand down.
Protesters have gathered at the main protest sites in the Central business district, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok.
A fourth protest site has also spread to Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, a major shopping district several roads south of Mong Kok.A fourth protest site has also spread to Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, a major shopping district several roads south of Mong Kok.
Mr Leung has rejected campaigners' calls for him to stand down.
Carrie Gracie, BBC News China editor, Hong KongCarrie Gracie, BBC News China editor, Hong Kong
The 65th anniversary of China's communist revolution began in Hong Kong with a flag-raising ceremony made for TV audiences across China. Nothing was allowed to disrupt the choreography.The 65th anniversary of China's communist revolution began in Hong Kong with a flag-raising ceremony made for TV audiences across China. Nothing was allowed to disrupt the choreography.
The only members of the public allowed to attend were dressed in red baseball caps and T-shirts, waving Chinese flags. One told me the democracy protesters "had ulterior motives and were marginal anyway".The only members of the public allowed to attend were dressed in red baseball caps and T-shirts, waving Chinese flags. One told me the democracy protesters "had ulterior motives and were marginal anyway".
Police were in attendance to protect both the flag and embattled Chief Executive CY Leung. He reminded his fellow citizens that Hong Kong's special status in China, known as "one country, two systems", means just that. It was an implied rebuke to protestors demanding Beijing overturn its restrictions on nominations for the 2017 leadership election. Police were in attendance to protect both the flag and embattled Chief Executive CY Leung. He reminded his fellow citizens that Hong Kong's special status in China, known as "one country, two systems", means just that. It was an implied rebuke to protesters demanding Beijing overturn its restrictions on nominations for the 2017 leadership election.
The protesters are determined to be seen and heard. Some were outside the ceremony, turning their backs on the national flag.The protesters are determined to be seen and heard. Some were outside the ceremony, turning their backs on the national flag.
And less than a mile away, crowds were voting with their feet, streaming into what they're now calling Democracy Square, an encampment filled with umbrellas and a sea of freedom flags. The national flag of China nowhere to be seen.And less than a mile away, crowds were voting with their feet, streaming into what they're now calling Democracy Square, an encampment filled with umbrellas and a sea of freedom flags. The national flag of China nowhere to be seen.
Carrie Gracie: 12 hours of protests
China media: HK 'social order'China media: HK 'social order'
Carrie Gracie: 12 hours of protests
World press follows Hong Kong protestsWorld press follows Hong Kong protests
Family atmosphereFamily atmosphere
The BBC's Juliana Liu, in Hong Kong, says many families and parents with young children are in the streets due to the holiday, but the public do not expect to see any violence or trouble on Wednesday. The BBC's Juliana Liu, in Hong Kong, says that many families and parents with young children were in the streets on Wednesday, changing the atmosphere dramatically compared to Sunday, when police fired tear gas and pepper spray at the crowds.
It is a completely different atmosphere to that of Sunday, when police fired tear gas and pepper spray at the crowds, she adds. Mr Leung attended a ceremony marking China's 65th National Day, which celebrates the founding of communist China in 1949.
Early on Wednesday, Mr Leung attended a ceremony in Hong Kong marking China's 65th National Day, which celebrates the founding of communist China in 1949. The flag-raising ceremony went ahead peacefully but a fireworks display was cancelled.
The flag-raising ceremony went ahead peacefully, as student protesters looked on from behind police barricades, with some calling on him to step down. The authorities have cancelled a fireworks display that was due to take place later in the day, however. Mr Leung said that while people had different ideas about what constituted a "desirable reform package", it was better to have the right to vote than not.
Addressing officials, Mr Leung said that while people had different ideas about what constituted a "desirable reform package", it was better to have the right to vote than not. Beijing ruled last month that it would allow Hong Kong people to elect their next leader in 2017. But the choice of candidates will be restricted to those approved by a pro-Beijing committee.
"We hope that all sectors of the community will work with the government in a peaceful, lawful, rational and pragmatic manner to... make a big step forward in our constitutional development," he said. Police responded to mass street demonstrations at the weekend with tear gas and pepper spray, but since Monday the situation has remained calm.
Beijing ruled last month that it would allow Hong Kong people to elect their next leader in 2017. But the choice of candidates will be restricted to those approved by a pro-Beijing committee - meaning the Chinese government can effectively screen candidates. The demonstrators - who include student groups, supporters of the Occupy Central movement and others angered by the police response - were hoping for greater numbers on Wednesday.
A rumbling protest campaign ballooned into mass street demonstrations at the weekend. But the BBC's Babita Sharma, in Hong Kong, said while the numbers were still in their thousands, they were a bit thinner than on Tuesday.
Police responded initially with tear gas and pepper spray, but riot police later withdrew and since early on Monday the situation has remained calm. Occupy Central co-founder Chan Kin-man said the protests would spread like "blossoming flowers" unless the government started to listen to their demands.
Crowds swelled again on Tuesday night and the demonstrators - who include student groups, supporters of the Occupy Central movement and others angered by the police response - say they are confident of greater numbers on Wednesday.
China challengeChina challenge
So far there are no signs of concessions from Beijing. On Tuesday Mr Xi told Communist Party leaders that his government would "steadfastly safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau". There are no signs of concessions from Beijing. On Tuesday Chinese President Xi Jinping told Communist Party leaders that his government would "steadfastly safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau".
The protests are seen as a direct challenge to Beijing's grip on the territory's politics. Analysts say leaders are worried that calls for democracy could spread to mainland cities.The protests are seen as a direct challenge to Beijing's grip on the territory's politics. Analysts say leaders are worried that calls for democracy could spread to mainland cities.
News of the protests is being heavily censored in mainland China. Media have blamed "radical opposition forces" for stirring up trouble.News of the protests is being heavily censored in mainland China. Media have blamed "radical opposition forces" for stirring up trouble.
Separately on Wednesday, rights group Amnesty International called on the Chinese authorities to "immediately and unconditionally" release some 20 people who have been detained in mainland China in recent days for supporting the protests in Hong Kong. Separately, rights group Amnesty International called on the Chinese authorities to "immediately and unconditionally" release some 20 people who have been detained in mainland China for supporting the protests in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile the US restated its position on the protests, saying that a genuine choice of candidates in the election would enhance the legitimacy of the chief executive. The White House said in the legitimacy of Hong Kong's chief executive would be greatly enhanced "if the Basic Law's ultimate aim of selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage is fulfilled and if the election provides the people of Hong Kong a genuine choice of candidates representative of the voters' will".
On Tuesday, state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that Secretary of State John Kerry would discuss the protests with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi when the pair meet on Wednesday.
Hong Kong democracy timelineHong Kong democracy timeline
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversyQ&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy
Are you affected by the protests? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you affected by the protests? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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