CHINA TOPIX

12/22/2024 03:55:40 pm

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CY Leung To Hong Kong Protesters: 'Go Home'

Hong Kong

(Photo : Karrie Fong/Facebook) Pro-democracy demonstration held in various areas in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's chief executive has called on its citizens to immediately stop pro-democracy rallies.

CY Leung said the campaigns have already resulted to a standstill in several parts of Hong Kong.

Thousands of Hong Kong residents are on the streets crying for democracy and the right to universal suffrage. The protests started last month after Beijing authorities insisted on choosing the candidates for the 2017 election for the autonomous region's next leader. 

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Hong Kong protesters said mainland’s move clearly showed “fake universal suffrage.”

Protesters blocked streets in various areas making them impassable.

Leung has been called by Occupy Central to personally meet the protesters on Tuesday night.

The pro-democracy group said at a news conference that they would allow emergency vehicles to pass in some of the protest areas. They also said they would open “humanitarian corridors,” reported BBC News.

Leung  said the pro-democracy group promised that once the demonstrations go out of hand, they would stop. Leung said it was time to fulfill that promise as public order has now been disrupted.

On Tuesday night, the streets in Hong Kong became moderately quiet and people began cleaning up. However, the crowds were expected to be in overwhelming numbers on Wednesday, October 1, Chinese National Day, which marks the foundation of Communist China.

During the weekend, police used pepper spray to drive protesters away from cordoned sites. Later they used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Some schools and banks stopped operations as main parts of the city were blocked by demonstrators.

In addition for their cry to have the right to vote, pro-democracy groups want Leung to step down from office.

Leung said he will not step down from his post as Hong Kong’s chief executive. Leung also added his removal from office would mean that the next leader for Hong Kong would be chosen by a committee instead of popular vote.

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