China National Day celebrated among growing Hong Kong protests

  • 10 years ago
There is no sign of an end to pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong as thousands of people continue to call for the territory’s leader to step down.

The anger is over the Chinese government’s decision to vet candidates in the next leadership election in 2017.

“We all want to end this occupation as soon as possible,” said Occupy Central co-founder Chan Kin-Man, “but who can end this occupation? I believe it is the government. If they can give a sincere answer to our question, to our demands, I believe that the occupation will end, that it is, CY Leung has to step down.”

But as celebrations for China’s National Day took place, Chief Executive CY Leung made it clear he sees things differently.

“We hope that all sectors of the community will work with the government in a peaceful, lawful, rational and pragmatic manner to duly complete the subsequent consultation and legislative work, and make a big step forward in our constitutional development.”

On an official level at least there is unity in China, with National Day celebrations taking on a similar appearance in both Hong Kong and Beijing.

But if anything, rather than dying out, the number of protesters on the streets in Hong Kong, is increasing.

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