Hong Kong protests: China threatens to crack down on pro-democracy demonstrators

 
Solidarity: activists confront police at the government complex in Hong Kong today while mass protests were taking place around the world, including London and Los Angeles
2 October 2014

China issued its strongest warning to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters today as they threatened to storm government offices if the territory’s leader does not step down.

Demonstrators, who have been gathering in their thousands in the city centre, say they will occupy official buildings unless Chief Executive CY Yeung resigns. Overnight, about 3,000 protesters were reported to have massed outside his office, and there was a heavy police presence at other sites.

But Hong Kong police warned of “serious consequences” if this were to happen. China’s foreign minister Wang Yi said: “Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs. All countries should respect China’s sovereignty.

“For any country, for any society, no one will allow those illegal acts that violate public order.”

Mr Wang is the most senior Chinese official to speak about the Occupy Central protest movement. Now in its fifth day, it is the biggest challenge to Beijing’s authority since China took control of the former British colony in 1997.

Hong Kong protests - in pictures

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Support for the movement continued to build around the world, with solidarity events in London, Manila, Los Angeles and New York. The protesters oppose the Chinese government’s decision that a special committee must approve candidates in the first direct election for Hong Kong’s chief executive. They say this will allow Beijing to vet those taking part in the 2017 poll.

Raising the stakes, student leaders demanded Mr Leung should resign by midnight. Lester Shum, vice-secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said if he did not step down, “we will announce an escalation ... including occupying or surrounding different government buildings.” It led to fears of another clash with police, after violent scenes on Sunday when officers used tear gas and pepper spray.

This morning students were trying to block the road near the chief executive’s office. Police manned barricades, with activists huddling under the umbrellas that are a symbol of their campaign.

On the mainland, state TV said Hong Kong’s police should be supported in attempts to “restore the social order as soon as possible”. The People’s Daily added: “Handling affairs without following laws, Hong Kong society will be in chaos.”

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