Hong Kong Marks National Day as Protesters Defy Orders to Disburse | WPN World People News

Hong Kong officials on Wednesday held ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of communist China as city leaders remain locked in a standoff with protesters demanding greater democratic reforms.

As the city bristled with tension, an early morning flag-raising ceremony in Bauhinia Square drew marching bands and hundreds of dignitaries to commemorate China's National Day.

Nearby, tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators angered by pro-Beijing government restrictions on 2017 elections showed no signs of backing down.

The flag-raising went off peacefully, although scores of students near the waterfront ceremonies were heard booing as the Chinese national anthem was played.

There have been no reports of violence since Sunday, when police used tear gas in a failed attempt to disperse crowds.

Protesters are demanding Beijing scrap its plan for the 2017 election, which would allow a public vote but would restrict candidates to those approved by a selection committee.

In a speech Wednesday, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said the Beijing plan would be better than the current method of having an election committee select the territory's top leader.

"It is definitely better to have universal suffrage than not. It is definitely better to have the chief executive elected by five million eligible voters than by 1,200 people. And it is definitely better to cast your vote at the polling station than to stay home and watch on television the 1,200 members of the Election Committee cast their votes,” said Leung.

Leung, who on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the protests, did not directly mention the demonstrators. But he urged all sectors of society to work with the government in a "peaceful, lawful, rational and pragmatic manner."

One of the protest's main organizers, Occupy Central co-founder Chan Kin-man, apologized to citizens whose lives have been disrupted by the three demonstration sites. Fighting back tears, Chan said he hopes Hong Kongers understand that, despite the disruption, protesters "are fighting for long-term harmony in society."

Many businesses, along with some subway stops and bus routes, closed because of the protests, which also are rattling investors.

Hong Kong stocks fell nearly 1.3 percent Tuesday, following losses of 1.9 percent a day earlier, further raising fears the unrest could take an economic toll. The markets are closed Wednesday and Thursday for the holiday.

On Tuesday, the protesters stockpiled supplies and erected makeshift barricades amid fears that police may try to clear the demonstration sites before Wednesday, repeating tactics they used on Sunday, including the use of tear gas and pepper spray.

Police have so far not repeated those actions.

Foreign governments and rights groups continue to monitor the situation closely, fearful of fresh outbreaks of violence.

The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State John Kerry will discuss the political crisis with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday in Washington.

The U.S. has said it believes the legitimacy of Hong Kong's chief executive could be "greatly enhanced" if protesters' demands for universal suffrage are granted.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged both sides to resolve their differences in way that is "peaceful and safeguards democratic principles."

The protests are the worst unrest in Hong Kong since Beijing took control of the one-time British colony in 1997.

Source: Voice of America