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 Scores arrived with tents, suggesting they were in for the long
haul despite a call by police to remove obstacles that have blocked
major roads in and out of the financial centre, causing traffic and
commuter chaos with tail-backs stretching for miles.
Police said they would take action at an appropriate time, without
specifying what.
The government's decision to call off the talks on Friday came as
democratic lawmakers demanded anti-graft officers investigate a $6.4
million business payout to the city's pro-Beijing leader, Leung
Chun-ying, while in office.
Australia's Fairfax Media this week revealed the business payout to
Leung by an Australian engineering company.
"For sure it will be jam packed with people later today in Admiralty
after people get off work and students finish school," said Joshua
Wong, a 17-year-old who heads the group Scholarism that represents
secondary school pupils.
Admiralty is home to government offices next to the Central business
district, giving the name to the "Occupy Central" movement, which
has combined with the student protests, pushing the government to
introduce universal suffrage.
China rules the former British colony through a "one country, two
systems" formula which allows wide-ranging autonomy and freedoms not
enjoyed on the mainland and specifies universal suffrage as an
eventual goal.
But Beijing ruled on Aug. 31 it would screen candidates who want to
run for the city's election for a chief executive in 2017, which
democracy activists said rendered the notion of universal suffrage
meaningless.
Hong Kong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam said the talks with the
students were off because of the strident demands for universal
suffrage, which she said was not in accordance with the city's
mini-constitution, and because of their "illegal" occupation of
parts of the city and calls for people to rally.
China has also branded the protests illegal and on Friday criticised
the U.S. Congress for sending the "wrong message" to demonstrators
with its encouragement in a "deliberate attack" on China.
The annual report to U.S. Congress by the Congressional-Executive
Commission on China, released on Thursday, said the United States
should increase support for democracy in Hong Kong and push for
universal suffrage.
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"SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO"
Scenes of tear gas wafting between some of the world's most valuable
buildings, violent clashes, mass disruptions to business and
commuter chaos have underscored the challenges Beijing faces in
imposing its will on Hong Kong.
Protest numbers have dwindled to just a few hundred people at sites
around the city, but activists have managed to keep up their
blockade of some major roads, to the frustration of some city
residents.
"This is something we have to do when we are young. It's a process
of short-term pain for long-term gain," said John Wong, an
18-year-old university student.
One student leader said the protesters would consider lifting their
blocks on some roads if the government let them use Civic Square, a
grassy area next to government headquarters in Admiralty, media
reported.
The protesters are well equipped to sit it out, with supply stations
stocked with essentials such as water, biscuits, noodles and
cereals. They also have makeshift showers and dozens of tents have
been erected where tired students can sleep.
While the largely young crowds sit it out on the streets, their
democratic lawmaker allies are stepping up pressure on the city
government.
On Thursday, they threatened to veto some government funding
applications, although none that affect people's daily lives, as
they step up their civil disobedience campaign and try to paralyse
government operations.
(Additional reporting by Clare Baldwin; Writing by Nick Macfie;
Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
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