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Hong Kong protest leaders threaten to occupy government buildings Hong Kong protest leaders threaten to occupy government buildings
(about 3 hours later)
Student leaders of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have threatened to occupy government buildings if the region’s chief executive does not resign by the end of Thursday, amid growing uncertainty about where the demonstrations are heading.Student leaders of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have threatened to occupy government buildings if the region’s chief executive does not resign by the end of Thursday, amid growing uncertainty about where the demonstrations are heading.
There was a jubilant mood on the National Day public holiday as the protests continued, with more families among the crowd in Admiralty, the centre of the movement. There was a jubilant mood on the National Day public holiday as the protests continued, with more families among the crowd in the Admiralty district, the centre of the movement. Tens of thousands had gathered by mid-afternoon – more than at the same time on Tuesday – but the numbers in the late evening appeared to be down on the previous day.
Joshua Wong, of the student group Scholarism, said he was certain it would be the biggest day yet and tens of thousands had gathered by mid-afternoon. But by late evening the numbers appeared to be down from the same time on the previous day. Lester Shum, vice secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, told a news conference: “Leung Chun-ying must step down. If he doesn’t resign by tomorrow we will step up our actions, such as by occupying several important government  buildings.”
Lester Shum, vice secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, told a news conference: “Leung Chun-ying must step down. If he doesn’t resign by tomorrow we will step up our actions, such as by occupying several important government buildings.” He added that protesters would not occupy “essential” government offices for services such as hospitals or social welfare. He said there was no room for dialogue with Leung, but hoped government representatives would speak to the masses: “This is a movement of Hong Kongers and not led by any specific group.”
He added that demonstrators would not occupy “essential” government offices, such as hospitals or social welfare offices. He said there was no room for dialogue with Leung, he said, but he hoped government representatives would speak to the masses: “This is a movement of Hong Kongers and not led by any specific group.” Chan Kin-man, co-founder of Occupy Central, which initially proposed the campaign of civil disobedience, said he and his colleagues were still talking to student leaders about future actions.
Chan Kin-man, co-founder of Occupy Central, which initially proposed the campaign of civil disobedience, said he and his colleagues were still talking to student leaders about future actions, noting that the students’ protests last week had sparked the mass movement. “As a partner, we just want to know about the details, how it can be [done] in a peaceful manner and whether you can minimise disturbance to ordinary citizens. We trust students have thought about it, but we need time to think about the details,” he said.
“As a partner, we just want to know about the details, how it can be [done] in a peaceful manner and whether you can minimise disturbance to ordinary citizens. We trust students have thought about it, but we need time to think about the details,” he said. “We must respect their views. As different organisations we have liberty to launch our own actions. But we [will] very much try to have a concerted effort … We believe the people of Hong Kong want to see solidarity and want to see the problem resolved immediately.” “As different organisations we have liberty to launch our own actions. But we [will] very much try to have a concerted effort … We believe the people of Hong Kong want to see solidarity and want to see the problem resolved immediately.”
He repeated that “there must be a limit” to the occupation of the streets, and suggested Friday would be a test because it was a working day, but added: “I’m quite sure in the coming days, people will still come out.” He reiterated that the occupation could not go on indefinitely, but added: “I’m quite sure in the coming days, people will still come out.”
Earlier, Wong and other student activists turned their backs in a symbolic gesture of protest as the Chinese flag was raised at the annual National Day ceremony, which was attended by the chief executive and marks the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Pro-Beijing groups also joined muted celebrations in the city to mark the day. Demonstrators bedding down on the tarmac faced another night of rain. Earlier in the day, Kenneth Wong, a 24-year-old graduate, said he had slept at the scene despite discomfort because he knew the significance of the protests.
Leung did not refer to the mass movement in his speech at a reception, but said: “It is understandable that different people may have different ideas about a desirable reform package. But it is definitely better to have universal suffrage than not. It is definitely better to have the [chief executive] elected by 5 million eligible voters than by 1,200 people. And it is definitely better to cast your vote at the polling station than to stay home and watch on television the 1,200 members of the election committee cast their votes.” “We know it probably won’t be solved in a few days. We have a long journey but we have prepared psychologically. I think it’s a chance for us to do something for Hong Kong,” he added.
Adrian Leung, a teacher, said the mass movement was “a miracle”. He was joined by his social worker wife Ida and their two children. She said: “Five days ago I felt so desperate [about the political situation] and that there was no chance of change.
“Some Hong Kong people are really disgusted about these protests; they don’t think the PRC will give up, so it’s better to follow what they want rather than protest against it. Actually, I agree [that Beijing won’t back down] but I still want to fight.”
The day began with student leader Joshua Wong and other student activists turning their backs in a symbolic gesture of protest as the Chinese flag was raised at the annual National Day ceremony, which was attended by the chief executive and marks the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Pro-Beijing groups also joined muted celebrations in the city to mark the day.
Leung did not refer to the demonstrations in his speech, but said: “It is understandable that different people may have different ideas about a desirable reform package. But it is definitely better to have universal suffrage than not.
“It is definitely better to have the [chief executive] elected by 5 million eligible voters than by 1,200 people. And it is definitely better to cast your vote at the polling station than to stay home and watch on television the 1,200 members of the election committee cast their votes.”
In Beijing, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, did not comment on the biggest challenge to the Communist party since the 1997 handover, but vowed in a speech to “steadfastly safeguard” Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.
A tough commentary in the People’s Daily, the official mouthpiece of the party, warned of “unimaginable consequences” if the protests continue, saying they had “endangered the property and personal safety of the Hong Kong public”.
Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, called for genuine consultation over demands for greater democracy. “I think we’ve got to see dialogue replacing tear gas and pepper sprays,” he said.
Agnes Chow, one of the leaders of the student group Scholarism, said she hoped the government would look past the day’s celebrations to see “the anger and frustration of the Hong Kong people”. She said she could not predict when the movement would end because it was not controlled by organisations or led by a student group, but had emerged from ordinary citizens.
Support has been such that organisers appealed for people to stop donating drinks on Wednesday.
While the protests have been triggered by Beijing’s insistence that nominations for candidates must be tightly controlled, underneath that lie broader concerns about the future of the region and its ability to protect its identity and freedoms.While the protests have been triggered by Beijing’s insistence that nominations for candidates must be tightly controlled, underneath that lie broader concerns about the future of the region and its ability to protect its identity and freedoms.
In Beijing, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, did not comment on the biggest challenge to the Communist party for decades, but vowed in a speech to “steadfastly safeguard” Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. The government’s plan appears to be to simply sit out the protests. Reuters cited a government source with ties to Leung as saying that the chief executive “appeared ready to allow the anger to subside, and would only intervene if there was looting or violence”. The person added: “We have to deal with it peacefully, even if it lasts weeks or months.”
Agnes Chow, one of the leaders of Scholarism, said she hoped the government would look past the day’s celebrations to see “the anger and frustration of the Hong Kong people and that we don’t have our basic democratic rights”. Chan said demonstrators would out-last the chief executive, telling reporters: “If he believes that if he keeps on dragging on without answering to our demands then people will go away, forget about it.”
She said she could not predict when the movement would end because it was not controlled by organisations or led by a student group, but had emerged from ordinary citizens.
The government’s plan appears to be to simply sit out the protests.
“If [Leung] believes that if he keeps on dragging on without answering to our demands then people will go away, forget about it,” Chan said.