Hong Kong's leader offers talks, but won't resign
Calum MacLeod, USA TODAY 3:42 p.m. EDT October 2, 2014
VIDEO: Police in Hong Kong warned protesters that they will not tolerate pro-democracy protesters' threats to occupy government buildings if Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying does not step down. (Oct. 2) AP
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/10/02/hong-kong-pro-democracy-protests-china-deadline/16572959/
(Photo: Getty Images)
HONG KONG — This city's embattled Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying offered late Thursday to hold talks with pro-democracy protesters who have swarmed this city for a week, but he refused to resign as they demanded.
Student leaders did not immediately respond to Leung's offer. Occupy Central, a broader group that joined the protests, welcomed the talks but still wants Leung to step down.
Occupy Central "hopes the talks can provide a turning point in the current political stalemate," the group said in a statement. "We reiterate our view that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is the one responsible for the stalemate, and that he must step down."
Speaking at a news conference, Leung said he asked the territory's top civil servant, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, to arrange talks with the protesters, who are calling for free elections.
"I will not resign," Leung said.
Cam, standing next to him, said she would seek to meet with protest's student leaders of as soon as possible. "I hope both sides will be satisfied," she said. "Students had wanted a public meeting, but I hope that we can have some flexibility to discuss details."
Leung's offer "is not enough," said Mandy Lee, 26, an infant formula saleswoman at Thursday's protest. "We need some constructive feedback and actual suggestions. It seems the government didn't hear anything from us."
Chan Heiman, 25, a marketing employee, worried that the offer of talks was a delaying tactic. "We need a breakthrough. Hong Kong people can't wait for too long," she said. "These days are critical to the movement, as there will be less people next week."
Earlier Thursday, crowds swelled and police prepared more riot gear, as demonstrators threatened to occupy government buildings if Leung did not resign by midnight. Scuffles broke out as protesters tried to prevent police from moving what appeared to be tear gas and rubber bullets into the besieged government headquarters.
Hong Kong's police spokesman, Chief Superintendent Hui Chun-tak, did not rule out the use of tear gas and promised to use "appropriate force" if the situation escalated, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported.
Police would "not tolerate any illegal surrounding of government buildings," he said. The government called on the protest to end to allow 3,000 government officers to return to work Friday after a two-day holiday marking the 65th anniversary of the Communist Party's rule over China.
Police had used tear gas and pepper spray Sunday night to disperse protesters, a move that promoted even more demonstrators to turn out in subsequent days. Since then, police have shown restraint, and the demonstrators have been peaceful and orderly, even picking up their litter.
In an effort to shift the protests, which have paralyzed business districts in this financial hub, the government offered a playground as an alternative protest venue. "If Occupy Central organizers agree to call on participants to move to the Macpherson Playground, we will talk to (them) and hope to make space for them," the Undersecretary for Home Affairs, Florence Hui Hiu-fai, said Thursday, the Morning Post reported.
Such a move seemed unlikely to succeed. The leaders of the three main campaign groups — Occupy Central with Love and Peace, the Federation of Hong Kong Students, and Scholarism — said supporters must stay united and prepare for a long fight.
The protests were sparked when the government in Beijing issued rules that required its approval for candidates running for chief executive in 2017, which would be the first democratic election of the city's leader. Protesters charged that Beijing was reneging on its promise of a totally free election in Hong Kong, which has operated with more personal liberties than the rest of China after the former British colony was turned over to China in 1997.
Some protesters said the authorities are hoping the mass civil disobedience movement will fizzle as people return to work or class. "The police want to let us collapse automatically, rather than using force to suppress us," said Patrick Tang, 21, an English student at Hong Kong's City University.
"We need important action," such as entering government offices, "but in a peaceful and well-mannered way, so mainland media have no excuse to pick on us," Tang said.
"The concern of me and everybody I think is that the campaign will decrease in size and eventually fail," said Wong Chifai, 22, a construction consultant. "I want more people to join, and stay as long as they can, so we can bring down the economy and force the government to talk to us."
Social worker Remus Kwok, 34, who has been protesting for the past five days, said the demonstrations have made citizens here "angry and disappointed" at the lack of democratic reforms. "I don't think the government will change anything, but now more Hong Kong people care about society and politics, so this is already a success," he said.
One protester disagreed with the student leaders' threat to occupy government buildings. "Getting into a confrontation with police doesn't seem peaceful to me," said Wilson Yip, 22, a recent university graduate. "If they try to force themselves inside and confront police, I don't see what kind of point that would make. It may make fewer people support the protests."
USATODAY
In China, Hong Kong protests out of sight, out of mind
A student protester becomes emotional while pleading for a peaceful resolution on Oct. 2 in Hong Kong. (Photo: Wong Maye-E, AP)
USATODAY
Teen firebrand Joshua Wong leads Hong Kong protests
The massive protests in Hong Kong are in their seventh day. Demonstrators want the city's Chief Executive to resign today. China is warning that there could be chaos if the demonstrations continue. (Oct. 2) AP
Contributing: The Associated Press
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