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Hong Kong protest: Thousands on streets for fresh rally | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Thousands of people are demonstrating in Hong Kong's financial district after protest leaders called for a show of strength. | |
It comes after the territory's deputy leader called off talks with student leaders scheduled for Friday. | It comes after the territory's deputy leader called off talks with student leaders scheduled for Friday. |
Carrie Lam said the students' refusal to end their protest had made "constructive dialogue" impossible. | Carrie Lam said the students' refusal to end their protest had made "constructive dialogue" impossible. |
The protesters, demanding full democratic elections in 2017, paralysed parts of Hong Kong in recent weeks. | The protesters, demanding full democratic elections in 2017, paralysed parts of Hong Kong in recent weeks. |
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. | 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 after the talks were cancelled, leaders of the student movement called on supporters to return to the streets. | But after the talks were cancelled, leaders of the student movement called on supporters to return to the streets. |
"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. | "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. |
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. |
"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). | "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). |
Analysis: John Sudworth in Hong Kong | |
Once again the protest was entirely peaceful and good-natured, with speeches, applause and a bit of singing. But this was a rally on a Friday night in response to a call for a show of strength - oughtn't it to be ginormous, rather than just big? | |
Some estimates put the number at 10,000 or more but that's still a long way short of the scale of the protests at their peak. Hardly resounding proof of city-wide support for the pro-democracy fight and disruption it's causing. | |
But, if nothing else, neither is it small enough in scale to give the Hong Kong government what it so badly wants. This is not yet a movement that has run out of steam. The stalemate continues. | |
The protesters want to be able to directly elect Hong Kong's leader, the chief executive, in the 2017 election. | 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. | 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. | 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." |
Democracy 'a right' | Democracy 'a right' |
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. | 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 timeline | Hong Kong democracy timeline |
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy | Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy |