Pro-democracy protesters continued their occupation of central parts of Hong Kong Tuesday, threatening to escalate their action if the head of the city’s government didn’t start talks with them.
News agencies reported that third day of protests passed off peacefully, as police continued to keep their distance, having used tear gas against the protesters in an unsuccessful effort to disperse them Sunday evening.
Reuters reported that the protesters, largely made up of students, had begun to stockpile supplies and erect sophisticated barricades in a sign that they are preparing for a lengthy stand-off.
The protesters had earlier challenged Leung Chun-Ying, the chief executive of Hong Kong’s Executive Council, to start talks with them by midnight local time on Tuesday, or else face an escalation of action.
Leung rejected their demands and called on the protesters to go home immediately, the BBC reported.
“Occupy Central founders had said repeatedly that if the movement is getting out of control, they would call for it to stop,” Mr Leung said.
“I’m now asking them to fulfil the promise they made to society, and stop this campaign immediately.”
Leung had said earlier that there was no chance of Beijing backing down from its plans to vet candidates for Hong Kong’s next elections with a committee of Communist Party loyalists. The protesters are insisting on the freedom to choose their own candidates, rather than have them picked by the nomination committee.
With neither side showing any willingness to compromise, it appears likely that the demonstrations will step up a gear on Wednesday, a Chinese national holiday commemorating the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic.
Leung has, however, said that he intends to do without help from the People’s Liberation Army in keeping order on the streets, a statement that appears to lessen the risk of a crackdown like that on Tiananmen Square in Beijing 25 years ago.
“When a problem arises in Hong Kong, our police force should be able to solve it. We don’t need to ask to deploy the PLA,” Reuters quoted Beijing-backed Leung as saying at a briefing on Tuesday.
The local stock market again sold off sharply Tuesday on concerns as to how the situation will play out. The Hang Seng index finished down 1.3% and has now fallen 10% this month.