Thousands of demonstrators are blocking a central business district Monday at the heart of Hong Kong as protests by the Occupy Central with Love and Peace (OCLP) movement continue for a second day.
Hong Kong democracy protesters defied on Sunday volleys of tear gas and police baton-charges to stand firm in the centre of the global financial hub in one of the biggest political challenges for Beijing since the Tiananmen Square crackdown 25 years ago.
The territory's chief executive Leung Chun-ying has appealed to the protesters to leave Harcourt Road, while fears build that the Chinese army might intervene.
In scenes described as "chaotic" by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post newspaper, riot police used pepper spray, batons and teargas to try and clear the street."Anyone with a conscience should be ashamed to be associated with a government that is so indifferent to public opinion. We urge all Executive Councilors and government officials under the accountability system, and who have a conscience, to resign from their positions and to stand with the people," the statement read.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry, on the other hand, said on Monday that China opposes any external force supporting "illegal movements" such as Occupy Central.
Hua Chunying, China's foreign ministry spokeswoman, said Beijing was also opposed to external interference in China's affairs by any foreign country.