Hong Kong protesters continue to defy Beijing with calls for democracy
By Sarah Clarke in Hong Kong and wires
Updated about 2 hours ago
GALLERY: Hong Kong Protests in Pictures
Major streets around Hong Kong remain blocked as tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters continue demonstrations.
Organisers said as many as 80,000 people gathered in Hong Kong's central business district last night for a peaceful protest after Sunday's night of violence.
The police presence was much reduced and instead, families and commuters, joined the demonstration in support of calls for a democratic election in 2017.
Schools in central Hong Kong are again closed and some banks have shut branches in the CBD for another day.
The demonstrators have vowed to stay until the Chinese government decides to give Hong Kong voters a genuine choice in who can run for the post of chief executive in three years.
Wednesday is a holiday for China's national day and more people are expected to join the blockade.
Beijing has called the #Occupy Central event an illegal activity and the city's government wants students to abandon the rally.
But with thousands still camped out in the street, there is no sign the demonstrators will adhere to the Chinese government's demands.
Britain has voiced concern about the escalating protests in its former colony, referring to the Sino-British Joint Declaration which enshrines the 'one country, two systems' principle meant to preserve Hong Kong's capitalist system and way of life for a period up to 2047.
"We hope that the upcoming consultation period will produce arrangements which allow a meaningful advance for democracy in Hong Kong," the Foreign Office said in a statement.
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Analysis: Stephen McDonell
There are thousands of people still here. The attempts by the police to clear the crowd with tear gas have actually backfired.
Students are leading the way and others are joining them. People are dug in here - they've got food, they've got supplies and umbrellas.
Police have certainly retreated here. It seems like a deliberate decision from the government, I suppose, or a tactical one. It will be interesting to see where it leads.
We've seen groups of young students preparing themselves for the battle to come. They've got protective eyewear and other stuff around their skin because, I suppose, they think that tear gas is going to be used again.
When we ask them if they are going to stick it out here, the response is definitely, 'Yes'.
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Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg voiced support for the protesters.
"I sympathise a great deal with the brave pro-democracy demonstrators taking to the streets of Hong Kong," he tweeted.
"Universal suffrage must mean real choice for the people of Hong Kong and a proper stake in the 2017 election."
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the US is closely watching the situation while supporting the protesters' calls for universal suffrage.
"We believe that the basic legitimacy of the chief executive in Hong Kong will be greatly enhanced if the basic law's ultimate aim of selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage is fulfilled," he said.
"We have consistently made our position known to Beijing and will continue to do so."
Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou said Beijing needed "to listen carefully to the demands of the Hong Kong people."
But a Chinese government spokeswoman said Beijing was opposed to "any foreign country using any method to interfere in China's internal affairs."
"We are also resolutely opposed to any country, attempting in any way to support such illegal activities like 'Occupy Central'," the spokeswoman said.
"We are fully confident in the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, because I believe this is in keeping with the interests of all the people in China, the region and the world."
Video: 'We won't accept Beijing's candidates' (7.30) China rules Hong Kong under a 'one country, two systems' formula that accords the territory only a degree of democracy.
But the mostly student protesters are demanding full democracy and have called on the city's leader Leung Chun-ying to step down.
As police withdrew on Monday, weary protesters slept beside roads or sheltered from the sun beneath umbrellas, which have become a symbol of what some are calling the "Umbrella Revolution".
In addition to protection from the elements, umbrellas have been used as flimsy shields against pepper spray.
Nicola Cheung, an 18-year-old student from Baptist University, said the protesters in the central Admiralty district were assessing the situation and planning what to do next.
"Yes, it's going to get violent again because the Hong Kong government isn't going to stand for us occupying this area," she said.
"We are fighting for our core values of democracy and freedom, and that is not something violence can scare us away from."
Organisers have said that as many as 80,000 people have thronged the streets after the protests flared on Friday night.
No independent estimate of numbers was available.
'Occupy Central' blocked on social media
The protests, with no single identifiable leader, bring together a mass movement of mostly tech-savvy students who have grown up with freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China.
The movement represents one of the biggest threats for Beijing's Communist Party leadership since its bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy student protests in and around Tiananmen Square.
Cracking down too hard could shake confidence in market-driven Hong Kong, while not reacting firmly enough could embolden dissidents on the mainland.
The protests are expected to escalate on Wednesday, China's National Day holiday, with residents of the nearby former Portuguese enclave of Macau planning a rally.
Pro-democracy supporters from other countries are also expected to protest, causing Beijing further embarrassment.
Such dissent would never be tolerated on the mainland, where the phrase "Occupy Central" was blocked on Sunday on Weibo, China's version of Twitter.
The protests have received little coverage on the mainland, save for government condemnation.
Protesters say there should be open nominations for candidates for Hong Kong's 2017 leadership election.
China's rubber-stamp parliament endorsed a framework on August 31 that ensured only pro-Beijing candidates.
Banks pull down shutters
Banks in Hong Kong, including HSBC, Citigroup , Bank of China, Standard Chartered and DBS, shut some branches and advised staff to work from home or go to secondary branches on Monday.
Markets more or less took the weekend's unrest in their stride, proof yet again of the pre-eminent place trade has always taken in Hong Kong.
Audio: Demonstrations rattle Hong Kong share market (PM) Hong Kong shares ended down 1.9 per cent.
The protests have spooked tourists, with arrivals from China down sharply ahead of this week's National Day holidays.
Hong Kong on Monday cancelled the city's fireworks display over the harbour, meant to mark the holiday.
Australia, the United States and Singapore issued travel alerts.
Reuters/AFP
* Hong Kong students protest outside consulate
* Share market and Australian dollar fall on Hong Kong jitters
* Schools, banks close as Hong Kong protests continue
* Hong Kong police use tear gas on protesters
* Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters clash with police
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