Thousands of protesters regrouped in central Hong Kong yesterday to push their demand for democracy, a day after the government called off talks with students amid a two-week standoff that has shaken communist China’s capitalist hub.
The political crisis has seen tens of thousands take to the city streets to push for free elections and seek the resignation of Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying.
Scores arrived with tents, suggesting they were in for the long haul despite a call by police to remove obstacles that have blocked major roads in and out of the financial centre, causing traffic and commuter chaos with tail-backs stretching for miles.
Police said they would take action at an appropriate time, without specifying what that would be.
“I’ve just set up camp here under the bridge and I will come down to occupy whenever I can,” said Wong Lai-wa, 23.
“I may have to go back to school during the day, but I will make every effort to come back.”
Everyone is trying to create his own space, or to defend his own position
China rules the former British colony through a ‘one country, two systems’ formula which allows wide-ranging autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland and specifies universal suffrage as an eventual goal.
But Beijing said in August it would screen candidates who want to run for the city’s election for a chief executive in 2017, which democracy activists said rendered the notion of universal suffrage meaningless.
China has branded the protests illegal and yesterday criticised the US Congress for sending the “wrong message” to demonstrators, in a “deliberate attack” on China.
In an annual report to US Congress, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said Washington should boost support for democracy and universal suffrage in Hong Kong.
Speaking in Berlin, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said: “Hong Kong’s affairs belong to the internal affairs of China and all other countries must respect each others’ sovereignty.” He added there had been and would be no change in China’s policy on Hong Kong’s autonomy.
“I am sure the people of Hong Kong and the government of Hong Kong have the competency to ensure the wealth and stability of society,” he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she hoped protests would remain peaceful and “solutions can be found in a free exchange of opinion which will satisfy the people of Hong Kong”.
The protesters are well equipped to sit it out, with supply stations stocked with essentials. They also have makeshift showers and dozens of tents pitched where they can sleep. “Everyone is trying to create his own space, or to defend his own position,” said Travis Chu, sitting with four friends in the Admiralty district. “Even though it seems things are in a bottleneck now, all we can do is to stay on and continue the occupation.”
Admiralty is home to government offices next to the Central business district, giving the name to the ‘Occupy Central’ movement, which has combined with the student protests to try to push the government to introduce universal suffrage.