Hong Kong Protesters Threaten to Seize Buildings | WPN World People News

Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong are threatening to take over several government buildings if the territory's Beijing-friendly chief executive does not resign Thursday.

The student protesters are giving Leung Chun-ying until midnight local time to resign, and have already begun camping outside his office in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

The occupation of government buildings would be a major escalation for the protesters, tens of thousands of whom have camped out in several main thoroughfares since last Friday.

Leung has given no signs he intends to step down, refusing to even meet with the protesters who are angry over Beijing's plan to vet candidates seeking to replace Leung in 2017 elections.

The Communist Party on Thursday signaled it is not ready to compromise. A front-page editorial in the People's Daily, a party mouthpiece, expressed confidence in the embattled Leung.

The editorial said the protests violated Hong Kong's law, blocked traffic, disrupted social order, and hurt peace and prosperity. It added that Beijing firmly supports the handling of the protests by Hong Kong police.

Police on Sunday used tear gas and pepper spray in a failed attempt to disperse the protest camps. But police have since pulled back, allowing the protests to continue.

There are reports that Leung is reluctant to use further force against the demonstrators, and that he will instead attempt to wait out the protests in hopes they subside or lose public support.

In Washington, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi slammed the protests as illegal and warned the U.S. and others to not interfere with China's internal affairs.

Wang's comments came after meeting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who said he has "high hopes that Hong Kong authorities will exercise restraint and respect protesters' rights to express their views."

President Obama also participated in the meeting, where he underscored U.S. hopes for a peaceful resolution of the Hong Kong standoff.

A White House statement said the Obama administration is closely following events in Hong Kong. It also noted consistent U.S. support for the "open system" of governance in the city necessary to maintain its "stability and prosperity."

President Obama opens a three-day visit to Beijing on November 10.

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

Source: Voice of America