Beijing warns against foreign intervention, as Hong Kong protesters block roads
Hong Kong riot police withdrew on Monday, but many roads remain blocked as democracy protesters refuse to go home. Beijing calls the protest movement an 'illegal activity' and warned foreign countries not to interfere.
Hong Kong riot police withdrew on Monday, but many roads remain blocked as democracy protesters refuse to go home. Beijing calls the protest movement an 'illegal activity' and warned foreign countries not to interfere.
Protesters in Hong Kong who say China has reneged its promise for free and fair elections in 2017 blocked major roads in the center of town, refusing to back down after police this weekend fired tear gas and baton charged peaceful demonstrators.
Hong Kong authorities withdrew riot police聽today according to the BBC. But roads remained blocked and some banks and schools were closed.
Tens of thousands of people confronted riot police over the weekend, with many using umbrellas to block tear gas. Some media outlets have dubbed the protests the 鈥淯mbrella Revolution.鈥�
Police said they used tear gas 87 times at nine different locations on Sunday, Agence France-Press reports. Seventy-eight people were arrested on Sunday and 26 people were taken to hospitals.
Student groups launched boycotts of classes on Sept. 22 to protest the Chinese government鈥檚 decision to restrict elections in Hong Kong. As the Associated Press reported, Beijing decided last month that the Chinese government would restrict candidates聽for the 鈥渇irst-ever elections for Hong Kong鈥檚 leader鈥� in 2017 instead of allowing open nominations.
The standoff represents the worst unrest Hong Kong has seen since China gained rule over the area in 1997 from Britain under a 鈥渙ne country, two systems鈥� agreement.
The Chinese government has warned against foreign intervention with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying saying,
Reuters reported a drop in Chinese tourists planning on coming to Hong Kong with protests expected to again escalate on China鈥檚 National Day holiday on Oct. 1.
As the BBC鈥檚 Celia Hatton reports from Beijing, the protests have placed Chinese government officials in an uncomfortable position聽as they try to clamp down on potential political challenges while avoiding memories of Tiananmen Square in 1989.聽
The photo-sharing service Instagram has been blocked in mainland China as has the search term 鈥淥ccupy Central鈥� on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo, the New York Times reports.
Hong Kong鈥檚 chief executive Leung Chun-ying聽told the public that rumors about the Chinese army intervening were unfounded.
鈥淚 hope the public will keep calm. Don't be misled by the rumors. Police will strive to maintain social order, including ensuring smooth traffic and ensuring the public safety,鈥� he said.