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China issues warning over Hong Kong 'illegal' protests | China issues warning over Hong Kong 'illegal' protests |
(about 11 hours later) | |
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned against "illegal" protests in Hong Kong, amid major pro-democracy rallies in the territory. | China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned against "illegal" protests in Hong Kong, amid major pro-democracy rallies in the territory. |
Mr Wang, in Washington, said the matter was an "internal affair" for China. | Mr Wang, in Washington, said the matter was an "internal affair" for China. |
US counterpart John Kerry urged Hong Kong to handle the protests - seen as a challenge to Beijing - with restraint. | US counterpart John Kerry urged Hong Kong to handle the protests - seen as a challenge to Beijing - with restraint. |
In Hong Kong, students angry at China's plan to vet candidates for 2017 polls have vowed to step up protests if Chief Executive CY Leung does not resign. | In Hong Kong, students angry at China's plan to vet candidates for 2017 polls have vowed to step up protests if Chief Executive CY Leung does not resign. |
They say they will start occupying government buildings if he does not quit by Thursday night. | They say they will start occupying government buildings if he does not quit by Thursday night. |
Overnight, some 3,000 protesters massed outside his office, AFP news agency reports. There is a heavy police presence outside government offices, the South China Morning Post reports. | Overnight, some 3,000 protesters massed outside his office, AFP news agency reports. There is a heavy police presence outside government offices, the South China Morning Post reports. |
But the BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says crowds on Connaught Road in the Central district on Thursday morning were at their lowest ebb since the protest began. | But the BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says crowds on Connaught Road in the Central district on Thursday morning were at their lowest ebb since the protest began. |
Organisers have attributed this to sheer exhaustion, as the demonstration stretches into its fifth day, she says. | Organisers have attributed this to sheer exhaustion, as the demonstration stretches into its fifth day, she says. |
'High hopes' | 'High hopes' |
The protesters include students, supporters of pro-democracy group Occupy Central and others angered by the initial police response to rallies at the weekend, which included using tear gas. | The protesters include students, supporters of pro-democracy group Occupy Central and others angered by the initial police response to rallies at the weekend, which included using tear gas. |
Mr Wang, the most senior Chinese official to speak openly on the matter, said: "Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs. All countries should respect China's sovereignty. For any country, for any society, no-one will allow those illegal acts that violate public order." | Mr Wang, the most senior Chinese official to speak openly on the matter, said: "Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs. All countries should respect China's sovereignty. For any country, for any society, no-one will allow those illegal acts that violate public order." |
But he said he believed Hong Kong authorities had "the capability to properly handle the current situation in accordance with the law". | But he said he believed Hong Kong authorities had "the capability to properly handle the current situation in accordance with the law". |
Mr Kerry said the US supported universal suffrage in Hong Kong, adding he hoped local authorities would "exercise restraint and respect for the protesters' right to express their views peacefully". | Mr Kerry said the US supported universal suffrage in Hong Kong, adding he hoped local authorities would "exercise restraint and respect for the protesters' right to express their views peacefully". |
In China, state TV said Hong Kong's police should be supported in their attempts to "restore the social order as soon as possible". | In China, state TV said Hong Kong's police should be supported in their attempts to "restore the social order as soon as possible". |
An editorial in the Chinese Communist Party's newspaper People's Daily on Thursday called the situation "chaos". | An editorial in the Chinese Communist Party's newspaper People's Daily on Thursday called the situation "chaos". |
"Hong Kong has for many years enjoyed peace and harmony. It now sees the emergence of this embarrassing 'chaos', and the root cause lies with a few people who are disrespecting the law.... 'chaos' denies Hong Kong residents their prosperity, goes against their wishes, and is not what all Chinese people wish to see or what we can tolerate." | "Hong Kong has for many years enjoyed peace and harmony. It now sees the emergence of this embarrassing 'chaos', and the root cause lies with a few people who are disrespecting the law.... 'chaos' denies Hong Kong residents their prosperity, goes against their wishes, and is not what all Chinese people wish to see or what we can tolerate." |
Juliana Liu, BBC News, Hong Kong | Juliana Liu, BBC News, Hong Kong |
The senior Chinese leadership has set out clear limits on who can run for the position of chief executive, Hong Kong's top leader, in 2017. | The senior Chinese leadership has set out clear limits on who can run for the position of chief executive, Hong Kong's top leader, in 2017. |
The rules make it virtually impossible for anyone not trusted by the Chinese government to stand for election. | The rules make it virtually impossible for anyone not trusted by the Chinese government to stand for election. |
As a result, the protesters accuse Beijing of reneging on decades of vows to give Hong Kong people genuine democracy. | As a result, the protesters accuse Beijing of reneging on decades of vows to give Hong Kong people genuine democracy. |
But although there is widespread anger that Beijing may have violated the spirit of the agreements it has made, there is intense debate over whether it has violated the letter of the law. | But although there is widespread anger that Beijing may have violated the spirit of the agreements it has made, there is intense debate over whether it has violated the letter of the law. |
Read more: Did China go back on its promises? | Read more: Did China go back on its promises? |
On Wednesday, Lester Shum, the vice-secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said he hoped Mr Leung would resign within a day. | On Wednesday, Lester Shum, the vice-secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said he hoped Mr Leung would resign within a day. |
"Otherwise, we will announce an escalation of our movement, including occupying or surrounding different government buildings." | "Otherwise, we will announce an escalation of our movement, including occupying or surrounding different government buildings." |
Chan Kin-man of Occupy Central urged the students to be peaceful, but also called on Mr Leung to quit, saying: "We can talk to anyone in the government except him... resign for the sake of Hong Kong." | Chan Kin-man of Occupy Central urged the students to be peaceful, but also called on Mr Leung to quit, saying: "We can talk to anyone in the government except him... resign for the sake of Hong Kong." |
Thousands of demonstrators remain camped out at the main protest sites in the Central business district, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. | Thousands of demonstrators remain camped out at the main protest sites in the Central business district, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
'A week or a month' | 'A week or a month' |
Several reports, citing unidentified Hong Kong sources, suggest the authorities plan to wait, hoping the protest campaign will lose momentum. | Several reports, citing unidentified Hong Kong sources, suggest the authorities plan to wait, hoping the protest campaign will lose momentum. |
The Wall Street Journal quoted a Hong Kong source as saying that Mr Leung was planning to ride out the rallies and had been ordered by Beijing not to use violence. | The Wall Street Journal quoted a Hong Kong source as saying that Mr Leung was planning to ride out the rallies and had been ordered by Beijing not to use violence. |
A Hong Kong government source told Reuters: "It may take a week or a month, we don't know. Unless there's some chaotic situation, we won't send in riot police... we hope this doesn't happen." | A Hong Kong government source told Reuters: "It may take a week or a month, we don't know. Unless there's some chaotic situation, we won't send in riot police... we hope this doesn't happen." |
Speaking to the BBC, former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten accused China of breaching commitments it made to Hong Kong before taking over sovereignty from the UK in 1997. | Speaking to the BBC, former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten accused China of breaching commitments it made to Hong Kong before taking over sovereignty from the UK in 1997. |
But he said he did not believe China "would be so stupid as to do anything like sending in the army." | But he said he did not believe China "would be so stupid as to do anything like sending in the army." |
Hong Kong democracy timeline | Hong Kong democracy timeline |
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy | Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy |