Hong Kong Protesters Block Roads as Leaders Set Deadline.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-29/hong-kong-protestors-block-roads-as-leader-sets-deadline.html

Protesters continued to block roads in central Hong Kong in the fifth day of pro-democracy demonstrations as leaders warned the standoff would escalate in the coming days if their demands aren’t met.

Crowds swelled to the tens of thousands last night as police largely kept their distance, avoiding the clashes of Sept. 28 that seemed to fuel the demonstrations. By morning, enough people remained in the Admiralty district for key roads to stay blocked as workers commuted by foot and metro. The benchmark Hang Seng Index dipped again, marking its biggest two-day decline since February.

The movement, kick-started by students on Sept. 26, swelled following weekend clashes with riot police who used tear gas to disperse crowds. Student leaders last night said the protests would spread if their demands aren’t met for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to resign and for the government in Beijing to drop plans to control the 2017 leadership election.

The Hang Seng Index fell 1.4 percent as of 2:10 p.m. local time after yesterday sliding 1.9 percent, the most in almost three weeks.

At a press conference last night, student leaders Joshua Wong, Lester Shum and Alex Chow, who were detained at the start of the protests and then released, called on Leung to respond to their demands by tomorrow or risk an escalation of the standoff.

Digging In

When asked at a press conference today whether he would resign, Leung said that “any personnel changes” would result in the existing election committee choosing his successor, rather than through a vote.

At the briefing, Leung dismissed speculation that the People’s Liberation Army, which was used to crush the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations, would be used in Hong Kong. He also indicated that the city was preparing for the protests to last.

“The impact from Occupy Central would not be just three to five days -- it could be quite long,” Leung said, citing the protesters’ road blocks, medical aid centers and supply stations.

The student’s deadline coincides with China’s National Day, when the country celebrates the founding of the Communist Party in 1949. Leung is due to mark the occasion at an 8 a.m. ceremony near where the main protests are being held. The popular firework show over Victoria Harbour for the holiday has been canceled. Thursday is also a holiday in Hong Kong, meaning turnout could swell with school and workplaces shut.

Cheering Crowds

Crowds cheered and made way for a convoy of three trucks and more than 10 motorbikes making food and water drops last night in Admiralty. Ada Chan, 26, a singer and music teacher, said she has slept on the street for the past two nights while still going to work in the day and won’t back down if Leung doesn’t respond to demands.

“I will just keep coming until I have a better answer,” she said. “Some people are calling for C.Y. to get out but to me, I want much more than that,” she said, referring to Leung by the initials he’s popularly known by.

School children in Causeway Bay sat passing round pastries, while one McDonald’s shop ran out of Coca-Cola and Big Macs as queues extended out of the door.

Anna Wong, 26, and her friends brought water, food and plastic wrap to protesters in Causeway Bay, two subway stops to the east, as protesters coordinated supplies using WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

“I just want to support the Hong Kong people to fight for democracy and for what they deserve,” she said.