This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/05/hong-kong-protesters-promise-keep-up-occupation

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hong Kong protesters promise to keep up occupation Hong Kong protesters promise to keep up occupation
(about 4 hours later)
Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have vowed to keep up their occupation as a Monday deadline fast approaches, but are seeking compromise by offering to open access lanes.Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have vowed to keep up their occupation as a Monday deadline fast approaches, but are seeking compromise by offering to open access lanes.
The Hong Kong chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, announced on Saturday that protests had to be removed by Monday morning so that life could return to normal. He said officials and police would take “all necessary actions” to restore order. The Hong Kong chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, announced on Saturday that the protesters would have to be dispersed by Monday morning so that life could return to normal. He said officials and police would take “all necessary actions” to restore order.
In a Sunday lunchtime statement, the government said it was ready to offer a dialogue on constitutional reform with the Hong Kong Federation of Students – but only if demonstrators cleared the roads and lifted the blockade around government facilities in the downtown Admiralty area. In a Sunday lunchtime statement, the government said it was ready to offer dialogue with the Hong Kong Federation of Students on constitutional reform, but only if demonstrators cleared the roads and lifted the blockade around government facilities in the Admiralty area of the city centre.
The executive council convenor Lam Woon-kwong insisted the Monday deadline was not an ultimatum, but urged protesters to disperse. The executive council convenor, Lam Woon-kwong, insisted the Monday deadline was not an ultimatum, but urged protesters to disperse.
The Federation of Students said it would not end protests as no progress had been made on political reform and because the police had yet to address their handling of violent attacks on protesters on Friday. Its leaders had originally agreed to hold talks with the region’s chief secretary Carrie Lam, but called them off after the assaults, complaining police had not protected peaceful demonstrators. Police denied the allegations. The student federation said it would not end the protests as no progress had been made on political reform and because the police had yet to address their handling of violent attacks on protesters on Friday.
Its leaders had originally agreed to hold talks with the region’s chief secretary, Carrie Lam, but called them off after the assaults, complaining police had not protected peaceful demonstrators. Police denied the allegations.
On Saturday night tens of thousands of protesters flooded Admiralty in one of the biggest gatherings yet seen, defying Leung’s order and renewing calls for him to resign. The mass movement has been the biggest challenge to Beijing since the former British colony was handed over in 1997.On Saturday night tens of thousands of protesters flooded Admiralty in one of the biggest gatherings yet seen, defying Leung’s order and renewing calls for him to resign. The mass movement has been the biggest challenge to Beijing since the former British colony was handed over in 1997.
But Benny Tai, one of the leaders of the Occupy Central movement, told the crowd: “We only target CY [Leung], not other government officials. By opening a route, CY will have no reason or excuse to clear our occupation and spread foul rumours.” Benny Tai, one of the leaders of the Occupy Central movement, told the crowd: “We only target CY [Leung], not other government officials. By opening a route, CY will have no reason or excuse to clear our occupation and spread foul rumours.”
Alex Chow, secretary general of the Federation of Students, said he hoped to talk to officials about opening up a pathway to government headquarters as a compromise measure. He said if violence did break out, the Federation may ask protesters to disperse. Alex Chow, the student federation’s secretary general, said he hoped to talk to officials about opening up a pathway to government headquarters as a compromise measure. He said if violence did break out, the federation may ask protesters to disperse.
He told the crowd: “In the face of violence we must remain steadfast and brave. This is only the calm before the storm, but the Hong Kong people here with us tonight prove our strength.” “In the face of violence we must remain steadfast and brave. This is only the calm before the storm, but the Hong Kong people here with us tonight prove our strength,” he told the crowd.
Joshua Wong, another student leader, stressed: “We are not seeking revolution. We just want democracy.” Joshua Wong, another student leader, said: “We are not seeking revolution. We just want democracy.”
The movement was sparked by Beijing’s decision to impose tight restrictions on elections of the next chief executive in 2017, but has also come to embody broader concerns that the region’s freedoms and identity are being whittled away. The movement was sparked by Beijing’s decision to impose tight restrictions on the election of the next chief executive in 2017, but has also come to embody broader concerns that the region’s freedoms and identity are being whittled away.
“The ‘one country, two systems’ model and high degree of autonomy, these promises have been adulterated in the past several years,” Willy Lam, a politics professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong told AP.“The ‘one country, two systems’ model and high degree of autonomy, these promises have been adulterated in the past several years,” Willy Lam, a politics professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong told AP.
Whether protesters will listen to the movement’s original leaders remains to be seen. The movement has taken on a life of its own. Whether protesters will listen to the movement’s original leaders remains to be seen, as it has taken on a life of its own.
The region’s financial secretary John Tsang acknowledged that the mass movement was unprecedented, telling the South China Morning Post: “The government, political parties, community groups, the media and the public have no experience and psychological preparation to face this situation, making it all the more difficult to resolve.” The region’s financial secretary, John Tsang, acknowledged that the mass movement was unprecedented, telling the South China Morning Post: “The government, political parties, community groups, the media and the public have no experience and psychological preparation to face this situation, making it all the more difficult to resolve.”
Many participants have ignored previous calls by leaders, such as to withdraw from Mong Kok, where triads and others have attacked protesters and where many residents are angered by the ongoing blockade, which they say has hit their livelihoods. Many participants have ignored leaders’ previous calls, such as to withdraw from the Mong Kok neighbourhood, where triads and others have attacked protesters and where many residents are angered by the ongoing blockade, which they say has hit their livelihoods.
“I’d like to support the students because their initiative, their motives are good. But I think some of them are off track now,” Grant Yip, a 36-year-old corporate trainer, told Reuters.“I’d like to support the students because their initiative, their motives are good. But I think some of them are off track now,” Grant Yip, a 36-year-old corporate trainer, told Reuters.
“We should have retreated three or four days ago when the government pulled the riot police back; we would have gained more public support.”“We should have retreated three or four days ago when the government pulled the riot police back; we would have gained more public support.”
AP reported that while protesters maintained their stance of non-violence in Mong Kok on Saturday night, some shouted abuse at their opponents. AP reported that protesters maintained their non-violent stance in Mong Kok on Saturday night, some shouted abuse at their opponents.
The South China Morning Post reported scuffles between police and demonstrators in the area, with officers saying pepper spray was used because protesters were emotional and “verbally abusive”.The South China Morning Post reported scuffles between police and demonstrators in the area, with officers saying pepper spray was used because protesters were emotional and “verbally abusive”.
In a commentary for Radio Free Asia, Bao Tong – the most senior official jailed over his sympathy for the 1989 pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square – praised protesters but told them: “The seeds have already been sown, and they need time to lie fallow … Take a break, for the sake of future room to grow. For tomorrow.”In a commentary for Radio Free Asia, Bao Tong – the most senior official jailed over his sympathy for the 1989 pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square – praised protesters but told them: “The seeds have already been sown, and they need time to lie fallow … Take a break, for the sake of future room to grow. For tomorrow.”
The vice-chancellor and president of Hong Kong University urged all students and staff to leave protest areas in an early hours email.The vice-chancellor and president of Hong Kong University urged all students and staff to leave protest areas in an early hours email.
“I am making this appeal from my heart because I genuinely believe that if you stay, there is a risk to your safety … Please leave now: you owe it to your loved ones to put your safety above all other considerations,” Peter Mathieson wrote.“I am making this appeal from my heart because I genuinely believe that if you stay, there is a risk to your safety … Please leave now: you owe it to your loved ones to put your safety above all other considerations,” Peter Mathieson wrote.
The former Democrat lawmaker Cheung Man-kwong pressed protesters to open dialogue with the government to avoid a tragedy. The former Democrat lawmaker Cheung Man-kwong also pressed protesters to open dialogue with the government to avoid a tragedy, and the former chief justice Andrew Li urged them to disperse for their own safety and in the interests of the community.
The former chief justice Andrew Li also urged students to disperse for their own safety and in the interests of the community, adding: “Through their peaceful demonstrations in recent days, the students’ ideals and aspirations for democracy have been fully understood and are respected.” “Through their peaceful demonstrations in recent days, the students’ ideals and aspirations for democracy have been fully understood and are respected,” he said.
The police officer who made the decision to use teargas last Sunday – prompting tens of thousands more people to take to the streets in sympathy with demonstrators – told the South China Morning Post he had no regrets, saying he acted solely from safety concerns. The police officer who made the decision to use teargas last Sunday, prompting tens of thousands more people to take to the streets in sympathy with demonstrators, told the South China Morning Post he had no regrets, saying he acted solely from safety concerns.
“It wasn’t intended to disperse the crowd – it was intended to stop the charge and make sure there was no crush of people,” said the unnamed senior superintendent. “It wasn’t intended to disperse the crowd. It was intended to stop the charge and make sure there was no crush of people,” said the unnamed senior superintendent.
He said people trying to break the police line had been aggressive, kicking officers. There are differing accounts of the events leading up to the initial use of teargas. Later in the evening, groups of police were seen approaching crowds of peaceful protesters and firing teargas. He said people trying to break the police line had been aggressive, kicking officers. There are differing accounts of the events leading up to the initial use of teargas. Later in the evening, groups of police were seen approaching crowds of peaceful protesters and firing canisters.