Hong Kong protests: CY Leung urges crowds to leave

Hong Kong leader CY Leung has urged pro-democracy protesters to stop their campaign “immediately”, as huge crowds continue to bring parts of the territory to a standstill.

Tens of thousands of people have been blocking streets in several areas.

The protesters want Beijing to give Hong Kong a free vote for its next leader, something Beijing has rejected.

Occupy Central has called on Mr Leung to meet protesters in person on Tuesday night.

During a news conference, the pro-democracy group also said it would open “humanitarian corridors” in protest areas to allow emergency vehicles to pass.

The streets were relatively quiet on Tuesday, with people mainly sleeping and clearing up.

But crowds are set to swell during the evening ahead of Chinese National Day on 1 October.

Wednesday is a national holiday marking the founding of Communist China.

At the weekend police used tear gas and pepper spray, but riot police have since been withdrawn and protesters remain calm.

Key parts of the city are being blocked by protesters, with some schools and banks closed.

The protesters want Mr Leung, the chief executive, to step down. But he appeared to reject their demand, saying that his removal would mean Hong Kong’s next leader being chosen by a committee, as in 2012, rather than by voters.

He also called on the protesters – a mix of students, supporters of the Occupy Central group and others angered by the police response to the protests – to go home.

“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.”

Source: BBC