- Title: CHINA: Hong Kong leader refuses to resign
- Date: 2nd October 2014
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (OCTOBER 2, 2014) (REUTERS) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LEUNG CHUN-YING, AND HONG KONG CHIEF SECRETARY, CARRIE LAM, AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LEUNG CHUN-YING, SAYING: "I won't resign because I must carry out the universal suffrage work." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LEUNG CHUN-YING, SAYING: "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." LEUNG WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 17th October 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- City:
- Country: China
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9HG4HKVY65ZF8IF4N8M5GHR4D
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying defied pro-democracy protesters' demands to step down by Friday, and repeated police warnings that the consequences would be serious if they sought to surround or occupy government buildings.
Speaking to reporters just minutes before an ultimatum for him to resign expired, Leung also said that Chief Secretary Carrie Lam would hold a meeting with students soon to discuss political reforms. He gave no time frame.
"I won't resign because I must carry out the universal suffrage work," Leung told a brief news conference, referring to electoral reforms. His decision had been widely anticipated.
Student leaders had demanded that Leung resign by midnight on Thursday, and called on their followers to occupy government buildings if he refused.
"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, repeating warnings from the police that their response to any such action would be robust.
Some of the thousands of people massed outside Leung's office voiced disappointment, although the atmosphere was calm.
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in the last week to demand full democracy, including a free voting system when they come to choose a new leader in 2017.
China decreed on August 31 that it would vet candidates wishing to run for the post of Hong Kong's chief executive, and residents have aimed their anger at Leung, who enjoys Beijing's support.
The protests, the worst to hit Hong Kong since China resumed its rule of the former British colony in 1997, have brought parts of the Asian trading hub to a standstill.
The "Occupy Central" movement presents one of the biggest political challenges for Beijing since it violently crushed pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
Universal suffrage is an eventual goal under the "one country, two systems" formula by which China rules Hong Kong. Under that formula, China accords Hong Kong some autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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