China warns of chaos in Hong Kong, students threaten to occupy buildings

BEIJING has a harshly worded message for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

Not only is Beijing unwilling to reconsider the August decision to allow only Communist Party-approved candidates to run for Hong Kong’s highest office, but Hong Kongers who continue to participate in the protests should expect dire consequences, an editorial in the People’s Daily newspaper has warned.

Anger ... a pro-China supporter holding a Chinese national flag confronts pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong.

Some activists and analysts, including a former Tiananmen student leader, say the piece bears a marked similarity to a notorious editorial that ran the People’s Daily more than 25 years ago. That piece was later blamed for leading to the brutal crackdown on demonstrations, which killed hundreds or thousands, depending on estimates.

Won’t back down ... student leader Lester Shum speaks to thousands at the protest site in Hong Kong. 

Today’s People’s Daily editorial says the Beijing stance on Hong Kong’s elections are “unshakable” and legally valid. It goes on to argue that the pro-democracy “Occupy Central” protests are illegal and are hurting Hong Kong. “If it continues, the consequences will be unimaginable,” the editorial warns.

We hear you ... in Los Angeles, Hong Kong democracy protesters gather in a show of support. Picture:

Other editorials in state-run or state-affiliated media have weighed in on the protests in recent days, dubbing the participants “radical activists” and blaming unseen foreign forces for encouraging them. But the People’s Daily editorial carries more weight, appearing as it did first in the official government newspaper—though there is plenty of debate among China-watchers on this.
Earlier, China scolded the United States, saying pro-democracy protests sweeping Hong Kong were none of its business and brushing off US calls for restraint, warning it will not tolerate “illegal acts”.
“The Chinese government has very firmly and clearly stated its position. Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday ahead of talks at the State Department.

Stand-off ... thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrators have massed outside the offices of the city’s embattled leader Leung Chun-ying. Picture: Jonathan Nackstrand Source: AFP

“All countries should respect China’s sovereignty and this is a basic principle of governing international relations,” Mr Wang said sternly.
“I believe for any country, for any society, no one would allow those illegal acts that violate public order. That’s the situation in the United States and that’s the same situation in Hong Kong.”
Mr Kerry however renewed US calls for restraint by the Hong Kong authorities in tackling the protests with huge crowds gathering Wednesday in defiant mood on China’s National Day.
“As China knows, we support universal suffrage in Hong Kong, accordant with the Basic Law,” Mr Kerry told reporters, standing alongside Wang.

‘Umbrella revolution’ ... so named for the umbrellas protesters have used to protect themselves against tear gas, the sun and torrential downpours.

“We believe in an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by rule of law is essential for Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity,” Mr Kerry said.
“And we have high hopes that the Hong Kong authorities will exercise restraint and respect the protesters right to express their views peacefully.”
Beijing is grappling with one of the biggest challenges to its rule over the city, triggered after it restricted who can run as the commercial hub’s next chief executive.
Wang threw Beijing’s support behind the Hong Kong authorities, saying that they had the “capability to properly handle the current situation in accordance with the law.”

Fighting back ... Beijing is grappling with one of the biggest challenges to its rule over Hong Kong, triggered after it restricted who can run as the commercial hub’s next chief executive. Picture: Alex Ogle Source: AFP

Meanwhile, thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators have massed outside the offices of the city’s embattled leader in a tense standoff with police, with calls growing for him to resign as protests grip the city.
About 200 police equipped with riot helmets, gas masks and shields stood firm behind metal barricades in the early hours of Thursday as more than 3000 protesters gathered outside Leung Chun-ying’s office.
A car nearly hit the crowd as it swerved past, further raising tensions as the protesters yelled at the police from behind the barricades and chanted for Mr Leung — seen by critics as a Beijing stooge — to step down.
The spike in tensions came after three days of peaceful demonstrations in which tens of thousands of people took over major Hong Kong highways, calling for Beijing to allow free elections in the semi-autonomous city.
On Wednesday night, one of the student leaders organising the protests threatened to step up the action — including a possible attempt to occupy government offices — if Mr Leung did not resign by Thursday.
“We will consider having different operating actions in future days, including occupying other places like important government offices,” said Agnes Chow of student movement Scholarism.
Students have been at the forefront of the demonstrations but others have swelled their ranks since riot police tear-gassed protesters on Sunday night, in chaotic scenes that triggered an outpouring of support.

The protesters are furious at the central government’s refusal to allow free elections for the city’s next leader in 2017, insisting that only two or three candidates vetted by a pro-Beijing committee will be permitted to stand.
They call this “fake democracy” and have two demands — that Mr Leung steps down and that Beijing reverses its decision.
In a movement being dubbed the ‘umbrella revolution’ — a nod to the umbrellas they have used to protect themselves against tear gas, the sun and torrential downpours alike — the protesters have brought key parts of the city to a standstill, heavily disrupting the transport network and shutting down businesses.
Wednesday and Thursday are both public holidays in Hong Kong, leaving many workers free to swell the masses in the streets.

Among those gathered were expats from Hong Kong as well as others in Britain to study. Picture: Danny E. Martindale Source: Getty Images

Thousands demonstrate outside the Chinese Embassy in London, in support of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests. Picture: Danny E. Martindale Source: Getty Images

In London, 3000 people gathered outside the Chinese embassy to demonstrate support for the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
Many carried umbrellas, the symbol of the movement, while others held bammers aloft demanding “Democracy by 2017,” the BBC reports.
“We are out to tell people in Hong Kong you are not alone. There are many people standing together across the world,” said PhD student Desmond Sham, one of the organisers. “We are just one of the actions of global solidarity.”
Ellen Or, 49, who studies in London but is returning to Hong Kong on Thursday to join the protests there, said she was demonstrating “for the future of Hong Kong”.