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| Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying offers talks with protesters as he refuses to accept calls for him to resign | Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying offers talks with protesters as he refuses to accept calls for him to resign |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying has offered to hold talks between his officials and pro-democracy protesters to discuss political reform. | Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying has offered to hold talks between his officials and pro-democracy protesters to discuss political reform. |
| Speaking just minutes before an ultimatum for him to resign expired, the embattled chief executive said he had no intention of accepting protesters' demands to step down and warned them the consequences of occupying government buildings would be serious. | Speaking just minutes before an ultimatum for him to resign expired, the embattled chief executive said he had no intention of accepting protesters' demands to step down and warned them the consequences of occupying government buildings would be serious. |
| "I won't resign because I must carry out the universal suffrage work," said Leung, adding that Chief Secretary Carrie Lam would hold a meeting with protesters, who are calling for democratic reforms for Hong Kong's first elections in 2017. | "I won't resign because I must carry out the universal suffrage work," said Leung, adding that Chief Secretary Carrie Lam would hold a meeting with protesters, who are calling for democratic reforms for Hong Kong's first elections in 2017. |
| Beijing last month ruled out free elections for the city's next leader, triggering mass protests. | Beijing last month ruled out free elections for the city's next leader, triggering mass protests. |
| Speaking at a news conference today, Leung appealed to the protesters to exercise restraint. | Speaking at a news conference today, Leung appealed to the protesters to exercise restraint. |
| He said: "In any place in the world, if there are any protesters that surround, attack, or occupy government buildings like police headquarters, or the chief executive's office ... the consequences are serious." | He said: "In any place in the world, if there are any protesters that surround, attack, or occupy government buildings like police headquarters, or the chief executive's office ... the consequences are serious." |
| A number of protesters were reportedly left dissatisfied with Leung's comments. | A number of protesters were reportedly left dissatisfied with Leung's comments. |
| "I don't think this is sufficient. I think he's trying to slow down the process and make us go home ... (but) people are feeling tired, mentally and physically and the numbers may decrease," Nicholas Chan, 20, a journalism student at Chinese University, told Reuters. | "I don't think this is sufficient. I think he's trying to slow down the process and make us go home ... (but) people are feeling tired, mentally and physically and the numbers may decrease," Nicholas Chan, 20, a journalism student at Chinese University, told Reuters. |
| He said: "The bargaining power is in the numbers." | He said: "The bargaining power is in the numbers." |
| Before Leung made his announcement, the heads of two major universities, whose students have joined the protests, appeared before a crowd in front of the entrance to the chief executive's office and appealed for calm. | Before Leung made his announcement, the heads of two major universities, whose students have joined the protests, appeared before a crowd in front of the entrance to the chief executive's office and appealed for calm. |
| During the day, protesters prepared face masks and goggles while police brought in tear gas and riot gear as tensions grew outside the government compound. | |
| Police have also warned of serious consequences if protesters try to surround or occupy government buildings, which the protesters had threatened to do if Leung had not resigned by the end of the day. | |
| Authorities in Hong Kong earlier urged demonstrators to end their blockade of the city centre. | Authorities in Hong Kong earlier urged demonstrators to end their blockade of the city centre. |
| Additional reporting by Associated Press and Reuters | Additional reporting by Associated Press and Reuters |