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-29430229

The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Hong Kong democracy protesters defiant on National Day Hong Kong protests: Rallies as National Day marked
(about 2 hours later)
Pro-democracy crowds have stayed on the streets of Hong Kong at the start of National Day - which activists hope will see the largest protests so far. Hong Kong leader CY Leung has urged protesters to back reforms set out by Beijing, amid huge pro-democracy rallies in the territory.
Tens of thousands of people have been blocking parts of the city for days. Speaking on the National Day holiday, Mr Leung said Hong Kong should work with Beijing to achieve progress.
They are demanding that China withdraw plans to vet candidates for the next Hong Kong leadership election in 2017. The protesters want Beijing to withdraw plans to vet candidates for the next Hong Kong leadership election in 2017.
Current leader CY Leung has urged the protesters to go home, and Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed Beijing's influence on the territory. Activists say they expect the biggest crowds yet on the streets to coincide with the holiday.
On Tuesday Mr Xi told Communist Party leaders in Beijing that his government would "steadfastly safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau". Mr Leung, Hong Kong's chief executive, has rejected campaigners' calls for him to stand down. Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed Beijing's control over the territory.
Mr Leung, Hong Kong's chief executive, has rejected campaigners' call for him to stand down. Early on Wednesday, Mr Leung attended a ceremony in Hong Kong marking National Day, which celebrates the founding of communist China in 1949.
Early on Wednesday, he attended a ceremony in Hong Kong marking National Day, a public holiday that celebrates the founding of communist China in 1949.
The flag-raising ceremony went ahead peacefully, as student protesters looked on. The authorities have cancelled a fireworks display that was due to take place later in the day, however.The flag-raising ceremony went ahead peacefully, as student protesters looked on. The authorities have cancelled a fireworks display that was due to take place later in the day, however.
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. 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.
The protests began at the weekend, and police responded with tear gas and pepper spray. Riot police later withdrew and since early on Monday the situation has remained calm. "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.
The streets were relatively quiet on Tuesday but thousands flocked to the protest camps as night fell. 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 group and others angered by the police response - said they were confident that they would step up the protests on Wednesday. A rumbling protest campaign ballooned into mass street demonstrations at the weekend.
Police responded initially with tear gas and pepper spray, but riot police later withdrew and since early on Monday the situation has remained calm.
At least three key parts of the city are being blockaded by protesters, including the central business district.
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.
"I think there will be a massive turnout, over 100,000 people tonight and leading into National Day," Occupy Central activist Ed Chin told AFP news agency."I think there will be a massive turnout, over 100,000 people tonight and leading into National Day," Occupy Central activist Ed Chin told AFP news agency.
"We are not afraid of riot police.... We will not leave until Leung Chun-ying resigns,'' student leader Lester Shum told the crowd."We are not afraid of riot police.... We will not leave until Leung Chun-ying resigns,'' student leader Lester Shum told the crowd.
Carrie Gracie, BBC News China editor, Hong KongCarrie Gracie, BBC News China editor, Hong Kong
"We want a real vote" is the chant heard in the heart of Hong Kong, which the protesters have renamed Democracy Square. A crowd many thousands-strong stretched in every direction, using their mobile phones to create a sea of dancing light. 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.
It is the third night of protests and the demonstrators were exhilarated by facing down riot police. In a show of civic pride, many had spent the day sorting rubbish. 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".
Others painted democracy slogans on the umbrellas that protected them from police pepper spray on Sunday and that have now become the motif for their movement. 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.
China's National Day is a test of strength that all sides will be watching closely. If the numbers on the street allow the protesters to say they have won the hearts and minds of the general public, Beijing will have to start thinking of a way to end this which avoids either loss of face or violence. The protesters are determined to be seen and heard. Some were outside the ceremony, turning their backs on the national flag.
Beijing concerns 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.
Hong Kong has a population of 7.2m and though there are many thousands of people on the streets, the degree of overall support for the protesters is unclear. 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".
Some residents fear the demonstrations could affect relations with Beijing or hit the economy of the financial hub. 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.
Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 under a formula that guarantees liberties not seen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and the right to protest.
Beijing ruled last month that Hong Kong people could elect their next leader in 2017, but the choice of candidates would be restricted to two or three people who must be approved by the majority of a pro-Beijing committee - meaning the Chinese government can effectively screen candidates.
The protests are seen as a direct challenge to Beijing's grip on the territory's politics.
Analysts say Communist Party leaders are worried that calls for democracy could spread to cities on the mainland.
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.
The US has repeatedly called for "restraint" in China's response to the protests. 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.
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.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.
"We believe the legitimacy of the chief executive would be greatly enhanced if the basic law's ultimate aim of selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage is fulfilled," she said.
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.
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.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions