DEMOCRACY

Hong Kong government ignores ulimatum, agrees to meet protesters

The Hong Kong government has pledged to meet with protesters as it works to restore normality to the city that has been wrought with unrest in the past days. "Talks will happen," said Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

In a dramatic news conference in Hong Kong on Thursday night, Hong Kong's leader pledged talks between government representatives and student protesters "in the near future" to bring an end to the unrest that has rocked Hong Kong in the last week.

"I have asked our top civil servant to arrange talks with the protesters," Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying told the press conference.

Leung, however, speaking amid periodic outbursts from those present in the room, refused one of the key demands of protesters, saying he would not stand down from Hong Kong's top political position.

"I won't resign because I must carry out the universal suffrage work," said Leung, referring to electoral reforms in the former British colony.

The "ultimatum" put in place by demonstrators on Wednesday - demanding Leung's resignation and a fundamental change to Hong Kong's electoral system - ran out just as the press conference got underway. The protesters said they would storm government quarters unless their demands were met. In his remarks, Leung warned of "serious consequences" if protesters went through with that threat.

"In any place in the world, if there are any protesters that surround, attack, or occupy government buildings like police headquarters, or the chief executive's office, the consequences are serious," he said.

Out on the streets of Hong Kong while the press conference was taking place, riot police stood guard with tear gas and rubber bullets. Tens of thousands of demonstrators remained on the streets of the financial hub.

'Full confidence'

Earlier on Thursday, China's ruling Communist Party used an editorial published by an official newspaper to stress that its confidence in Hong Kong's leader remained unshaken despite days of protests demanding his resignation.

"The central government has full confidence in Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and is completely satisfied with his work," read the commentary, published on the front page of the People's Daily.

The paper also expressed its confidence in the ability of local police "to handle illegal activities in accordance with the law," while at the same time warning that by "handling affairs without following laws, Hong Kong society will be in chaos."

Police said tear gas had been deployed hundreds of times since the protests began

Rebuke for tear gas

The police have faced widespread international criticism for using tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesters last weekend. Authorities have defended their actions, saying they had no choice but to respond after protesters charged police lines.

Protesters remained on the streets at several locations in the financial hub on Thursday night, but in lower numbers than on Wednesday, China's national holiday, when their numbers swelled into the tens of thousands as many families and couples took advantage of the day off to visit the protest zones.

The demonstrators, who are demanding a fully free and democratic election for Hong Kong's next chief executive in 2017, have threatened to "paralyze the functioning" of important government offices if Leung fails to meet their demand that he step down by the end of this Thursday. They are protesting against a Chinese government decision last month to allow only a candidates vetted by Beijing to make it onto the ballot.

glb/msh (dpa, Reuters, AFP, AP)