Leung Chun-ying, chief executive of the Chinese special territory Hong Kong, has urged pro-democracy protesters to stop their movement immediately, after the crowd’s leaders have given the Chinese government until Wednesday to meed their demands. According to the executive, there is simply no way the Beijing government would reverse its previous decision to pick the leader of the former British colony.
According to Leung, the continued use of illegal activities has no chance compelling the central government of China to change its decisions. Occupy Central, the pro-democracy activist group led by former Catholic bishop Joseph Zen, has given the Chinese government an October 1st deadline for democratic reforms – including the resignation of the current chief executive – to be implemented in the territory. The group has promised to announce new civil disobedience programs on the same day.
Leung has responded to them through the local media, calling to the Occupy Central to stop the movement before it gets out of control. October 1st is China’s national holiday, meaning that even more people are expected to be on the streets. The local government has even announced to cancel the fireworks planned for the celebration of the day. The civil disobedience movement that has ultimately led to a series of riots last Sunday was started by the decision made by China’s central government to hand pick the leading executive of the Hong Kong semi-autonomous territory. This is regarded by locals as breaking the promise of allowing greater democracy in Hong Kong, including the election of the chief executive through “universal suffrage”.
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The peaceful protest has transformed into riots on Sunday – the authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowds, and there were 41 reported injuries. The next night was spent in peaceful way, after the riot police was recalled. In several areas of the city-state schools and subway stations will be closed, bus routes will be diverted due to security concerns.