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Hong Kong protests: China strongly backs leader CY Leung Hong Kong protests: China strongly backs leader CY Leung
(about 2 hours later)
China's state media has strongly backed Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung, praising his performance while condemning protests as "chaos". China's state media have strongly backed Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung, praising his performance while condemning protests as "chaos".
The support in Communist Party paper People's Daily came as Hong Kong drew closer to a deadline set by protesters for Mr Leung to resign. The support in Communist Party paper People's Daily comes as student activists threaten to occupy government buildings if Mr Leung does not resign.
Student activists have threatened to occupy government buildings. Police on Thursday warned they would take action if the students did so.
The protesters are angry at China's plan to vet candidates for polls in 2017, saying they want full democracy.The protesters are angry at China's plan to vet candidates for polls in 2017, saying they want full democracy.
On Wednesday China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi also warned against "illegal" protests and foreign interference.On Wednesday China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi also warned against "illegal" protests and foreign interference.
'Disrespecting the law''Disrespecting the law'
The People's Daily is the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper. In a front-page editorial on Thursday, it praised Mr Leung's handling of the situation so far.The People's Daily is the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper. In a front-page editorial on Thursday, it praised Mr Leung's handling of the situation so far.
"The central government is full of confidence in Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying [CY Leung], and is completely satisfied with his performance," it said."The central government is full of confidence in Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying [CY Leung], and is completely satisfied with his performance," it said.
Beijing "will thus continue to strongly support Mr Leung's leadership of Hong Kong's legal administration as well as the police's handling of illegal activities", it added.Beijing "will thus continue to strongly support Mr Leung's leadership of Hong Kong's legal administration as well as the police's handling of illegal activities", it added.
People's Daily also carried on its website a comment piece from another newspaper which stated: "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."People's Daily also carried on its website a comment piece from another newspaper which stated: "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.""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."
Beijing's support of Mr Leung follows repeated calls by protesters for his resignation.Beijing's support of Mr Leung follows repeated calls by protesters for his resignation.
Juliana Liu, BBC News, Hong KongJuliana 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?
Overnight, several thousand protesters massed outside his office, where there was a significant police presence.Overnight, several thousand protesters massed outside his office, where there was a significant police presence.
Large numbers of protesters came out onto the streets on Sunday, when supporters of the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement joined student demonstrations. More people joined after police used tear gas on protesters. Large numbers of protesters came out on to the streets on Sunday, when supporters of the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement joined student demonstrations. More people joined after police used tear gas on protesters.
Since then, protesters have been occupying at least three sites in the territory, in the Central business district, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. Since then, protesters have been occupying at least three sites in the territory, in the Central business district, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. A fourth site opened up at Canton Road on Wednesday.
Lester Shum, the vice-secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, has called on Mr Leung to resign by Thursday night.Lester Shum, the vice-secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, has called on Mr Leung to resign by Thursday night.
"Otherwise, we will announce an escalation of our movement, including occupying or surrounding different government buildings," he said."Otherwise, we will announce an escalation of our movement, including occupying or surrounding different government buildings," he said.
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." The police on Thursday reiterated their call to protesters to disperse.
Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the protests were an "internal affair" for China. Hong Kong authorities had "the capability to properly handle the current situation," he said. Police spokesman Steve Hui told reporters that if protesters surrounded and occupied Mr Leung's office building in Central, this would cause public safety problems. "The police will not stand by and watch. We will decisively uphold the law," he said.
His US counterpart, John Kerry, has urged Hong Kong to handle the protests with restraint. When asked if tear gas would be used, Mr Hui said the police would monitor the situation and would use "appropriate force if necessary", reported RTHK.
The South China Morning Post is reporting confrontations between the police and protesters outside the building.
Chan Kin-man of Occupy Central has urged the students to be peaceful, but also called on Mr Leung to quit.
Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the protests were an "internal affair" for China. Hong Kong authorities had "the capability to properly handle the current situation", he said.
In other developments:In other developments:
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.
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."
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.
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