US Edition Student activists in Hong Kong have threatened to escalate their protests by occupying key government offices unless the city’s leader stands down by Thursday night.
The ultimatum to CY Leung, the Beijing-appointed chief executive, came as a crowd of 100,000 people embarrassed China by using the country’s official National Day to mount a peaceful blockade of the business district.
With police and officials retreating out of sight, a day intended to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Communist Party’s takeover of China turned into a celebration of the determination of the people of Hong Kong to fight for democracy.
In an intervention that will further enrage the Chinese leadership, Lord Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, called for dialogue between protesters and officials to “save face for Beijing”.
China has already warned foreign governments, including Britain, which ruled Hong Kong until 1997, not to interfere in “China’s internal affairs”.
The mood of the demonstration darkened when Lester Shum, the vice-secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, announced at a press conference that protesters would occupy government buildings unless Mr Leung resigned.
Mr Shum, speaking on behalf of one of several groups behind the protests, said: “We are open to negotiate with the Hong Kong and Chinese government but we will not talk to CY Leung.”
The warning suggested that the pro-democracy movement, which wants a free election for the chief executive of Hong Kong in 2017, is becoming increasingly radical. This may split opinion in the loose coalition of pro-democracy and student groups leading the protests.
Mr Leung is the focus of the discontent, with demonstrators carrying posters that portray him as Dracula – his nickname.
So far, Beijing has supported Mr Leung’s response to the situation. He is believed to have been advised to show restraint and wait for the demonstrations to die out.
On Wednesday, however, vast crowds stretched for more than a mile along a four-lane highway through the centre of Hong Kong.
The epicentre of the protests is directly in front of government offices and the People’s Liberation Army headquarters. Families, off-duty business people and the elderly could all be seen in the demonstration.
Mainland Chinese tourists, who have come to Hong Kong for the Golden Week holiday, wore yellow ribbons in support of the demonstrations.
In nearby Causeway Bay, a smaller group blocked roads armed with signs that told shoppers: “Fighting for democracy. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Serena Ku, a 17-year-old secondary school student, handed out 2,000 yellow ribbons outside the Sogo department store, a favourite destination for mainland Chinese visitors.
“People coming here from China ask us what we’re doing, and when we explain it to them, they say they like what we are doing and they took yellow ribbons to wear,” she said.
“We tell them we’re not acting against the Communist Party. We just want the right to decide who’s in charge and who makes the decisions in Hong Kong. All the mainland Chinese visitors we spoke to say they think universal suffrage is good and tell us, 'We support you’.”
Central Hong Kong appeared firmly under the control of the demonstrators. The police, who fired pepper spray and tear gas last Saturday and Sunday, retreated almost out of sight.
Mocking the Beijing government’s claims that Hong Kong protesters were the “puppets” of overseas governments, one student speaker drew applause and laughter as he asked: “Are you taking orders from Washington? Are you taking orders from London and the BBC?”
Despite the carnival atmosphere, dark rumours swept the crowd that the army and police were waiting until National Day was over to move in against the crowd.
“I’ve heard the first we’ll know is when our phone signals are cut off and there are no more internet connections,” said a 22-year-old university student.
“Then they’ll move in and clear the demonstration in whatever way they can.”
Mr Leung appeared in public only at dawn on Wednesday during a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate National Day. A group of students breached a police barricade and staged a silent protest, turning their back on the flag.
But Hong Kong’s leader said the city must “work hand in hand to make the Chinese dream come true” – conspicuously echoing a favourite catchphrase of President Xi Jinping, in whose hands his fate lies as he decides whether to sacrifice Mr Leung to quell the unrest.