AP/Vincent Yu
Pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong have begun partially removing barricades blocking entrance to key government offices ahead of a government-issued deadline on Monday morning mandating demonstrators clear the way for normal business to resume.
But according to reports, protestors remain divided, with many still rejecting plans to concede.
Midnight in Hong Kong. Connaught Road still very much occupied. Hard to see that changing by morning. #OccupyHK pic.twitter.com/KsszV05naR
— Peter Thal Larsen (@peter_tl) October 5, 2014
240 am HK and the main protest site in central is still busy. #OccupyHK #HKStudentStrike pic.twitter.com/D3nYbXRzFw
— Sarah Clarke (@sarahclarkeabc) October 5, 2014
Late into the night, about 200 protestors were still present in front of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s office. Some cars were allowed through, including one ambulance that was inspected to ensure no tear-gas cannisters were being carried inside.
still calm. some ppl sleeping; some ppl chatting; some singing songs together. #OccupyHK #HongKong #Admiralty pic.twitter.com/g2ebqADE5m
— patrickpoon??? (@patrickpoon) October 5, 2014
Protestors, who are demanding for Leung to step down and to be allowed free elections in 2017, are largely hoping to avoid violent confrontations with police come Monday morning.
“If the government uses force to clear away protesters, there will be no room for dialogue,” Lester Shum told reporters, according to the AP.
But Leung warned he was ready to “take all necessary actions to restore social order” and allow roughly 3,000 civil servants return to work.
Watch more below:
Update: By Monday, most of the city returned to work with only a few schools remaining closed. However, barricades and protestors were still present and traffic was snarled throughout. It is unclear if concrete negotiations with the government have been solidified. On achieving their primary goals, one student leader said, “I think it was possible, but now I don’t think so because they (the Hong Kong government) don’t give any response and China is also very much against this.”
A high school student makes her way to school passed thousands of messages of support for demonstration #OccupyHK pic.twitter.com/qI2SBZDY9y
— Sarah Clarke (@sarahclarkeabc) October 5, 2014
