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Hong Kong students call for protests as talks cancelled Hong Kong protest: Thousands gather for fresh rally
(about 5 hours later)
Hong Kong's student protest leaders have called on supporters to stage a major rally later on Friday after the government cancelled planned talks. Thousands of people have begun gathering in Hong Kong's financial district after protest leaders called for a show of strength.
The two sides were supposed to be meeting on Friday for the first time since pro-democracy protests erupted in late September. It comes after the territory's deputy leader called off talks with student leaders scheduled for Friday.
But on Thursday the government said it would be be "impossible to have a constructive dialogue". Carrie Lam said the students' refusal to end their protest had made "constructive dialogue" impossible.
Protester numbers have fallen dramatically in recent days. The protesters, demanding full democratic elections in 2017, paralysed parts of Hong Kong in recent weeks.
Last week thousands of demonstrators from both student groups and the wider pro-democracy Occupy Central movement paralysed parts of the city. Throughout the week only a few hundred protesters, mostly students, remained on the streets around the financial and government district of Admiralty and in Mong Kok north of the harbour.
But by Monday only a few hundred protesters, mostly students, remained on the streets around the financial and government district of Admiralty and in Mong Kok north of the harbour. Barricades remain in place, blocking off major roads. But after the talks were cancelled, leaders of the student movement called on supporters to return to the streets.
The protesters are demanding a fully free vote in elections due to be held in 2017 for the post of chief executive, Hong Kong's leader. "Come to occupy the road outside the public headquarters, come bring your tents to show our persistence on long term occupy action," said Joshua Wong, the 17-year-old founder of the Scholarism movement.
China has said that, under Hong Kong law, voters will be able to vote freely but from a list approved by a nominating committee.
The BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says the activists are hoping a new show of strength will be enough to sustain the movement.The BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says the activists are hoping a new show of strength will be enough to sustain the movement.
On Thursday evening, the student leaders had asked for an escalation of their protests and occupation if the government did not make concessions. By Friday evening thousands of people were flocking to the main protest site in the Admiralty area, she said.
Hours later, the government official involved in the talks, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, accused them of "undermining trust" in the proposed talks. Many were carrying tents and food supplies indicating they planned to remain for some time, Reuters reports.
"We are now planning on further action for escalating [the campaign] if the government keeps denying the meeting," said Alex Chow, secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS).
The protesters want to be able to directly elect Hong Kong's leader, the chief executive, in the 2017 election.
China has said that, under Hong Kong law, voters will be able to vote freely but from a list approved by a nominating committee.
Ms Lam has accused the students of "undermining trust" in the proposed talks by repeatedly calling people out to protest.
"The dialogue cannot be deployed as an excuse to incite more people to join the protest," she said. "The illegal occupation activists must stop.""The dialogue cannot be deployed as an excuse to incite more people to join the protest," she said. "The illegal occupation activists must stop."
Pro-democracy student leaders later accused the government of insincerity and urged them to return to the negotiating table.
"The chaos was caused by the government. They are responsible for cleaning up the mess," Alex Chow, the president of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS), was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
A message posted on the HKFS Twitter account on Thursday night said: "Govt refuses to talk. Let's show them what we've got."
Democracy 'a right'Democracy 'a right'
In a separate development, Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou used his National Day speech to urge Beijing to move towards democracy, voicing support for Hong Kong's protesters. In a separate development on Friday, Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou used his National Day speech to urge Beijing to move towards democracy, voicing support for Hong Kong's protesters.
Mr Ma said that as China became more prosperous, its people would want more democracy and the rule of law.Mr Ma said that as China became more prosperous, its people would want more democracy and the rule of law.
"Such a desire has never been a monopoly of the West, but it is the right of all humankind," he said."Such a desire has never been a monopoly of the West, but it is the right of all humankind," he said.
Taiwan - which Beijing views as a breakaway province but which has been governed separately since 1949 - has been watching developments in Hong Kong closely.Taiwan - which Beijing views as a breakaway province but which has been governed separately since 1949 - has been watching developments in Hong Kong closely.
Hong Kong democracy timelineHong Kong democracy timeline
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversyQ&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy
Are you in Hong Kong? Have the protests affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Hong Kong? Have the protests affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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