Thousands more people are joining pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong ahead of what organisers are confident will be the largest day so far, on China’s National Day public holiday.
Riot police on standby as Hong Kong prepares for protests http://t.co/7Mooi7NM3O pic.twitter.com/TpST5YOCA2
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) September 30, 2014
Protesters ignored a call from the city’s embattled leader to end the sit-in, as well as Beijing’s branding of their demonstrations as “illegal”, to take to the streets of the key financial hub.
A heavy downpour briefly sent umbrellas skyward and crowds scurrying, but the prospect of bad weather left the crowds undeterred.
Count on a stern response from Beijing on dissent in Hong Kong, writes @abrownewsj http://t.co/EGInMKHeT6 pic.twitter.com/9dITyoAcVZ
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 30, 2014
The protesters are demanding that China withdraw plans to vet candidates for the next leadership election in 2017.
What’s going on in Hong Kong? We explain.
There was a carnival atmosphere among demonstrators on Tuesday, in contrast to weekend clashes when riot police fired pepper spray and tear gas to quell the unrest. The streets were relatively quiet but thousands flocked the protest camps as night fell.
