One of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy leaders struggled to contain his emotions Wednesday as he warned protests would spread like "blossoming flowers" and pleaded with residents to understand why the city has been brought to a standstill.
Occupy Central co-founder Chan Kin-man told reporters it was inevitable the protests, which have already taken over several main roads and intersections, would grow if the government maintained its hardline stance.
"We understand why citizens are continuing to expand the occupation, it is because the government is so cold," Chan said, regularly having to stop speaking to compose himself.
"Despite such a large occupation, the government is still using such an attitude, so a lot of people think that the action now is not enough and that flowers must continue to blossom everywhere."
Occupy Central is one of the main organisers of the protest which spread to different parts of the semi-autonomous city after riot police tear-gassed demonstrators on Sunday, prompting more supporters to join them on the streets.
Tens of thousands of protesters have assembled in three major commercial and retail areas of Hong Kong for the past three days.
By midday Wednesday, crowds in the central district of Admiralty had already increased to several thousand, with offices closed for a public holiday to mark China's National Day.
Chan, who was close to tears, apologised to citizens for the inconvenience the sit-ins have caused and asked for tolerance.
"I hope everyone will understand what we are doing is not to harm Hong Kong.
"With this short-term inconvenience, we hope to bring about a system that is more fair."
Earlier Wednesday Hong Kong's leader Leung Chun-ying said the community should work together in a "peaceful, lawful, rational and pragmatic manner" while reiterating his commitment to the "Chinese dream".
The city's chief executive has asked protesters to end the sit-in, but his request has had no impact on demonstrators.
The most intense civil unrest Hong Kong has experienced since its 1997 handover from British rule was sparked by Beijing's decision in August to restrict who can stand for the city's top post in elections in 2017.
Protesters have two demands -- that Leung step down and Beijing rescind its insistence that his successor be vetted.
AFP
Wed Oct 01 2014
Occupy Central co-founder Chan Kin-man said it was inevitable the protests, which have already taken over several main roads and intersections, would grow if the government its hardline stance. - AFP Photo
Kuda terperangkap atas bumbung akibat banjir
Keberadaan kuda yang terperangkap sekurang-kurangnya 24 jam itu menjadi tular apabila imejnya yang berada di atas bumbung itu disebarkan.
AWANI Pagi: Malaysia Artificial Intelligence Nexus
Ikuti AWANI Pagi bersama Nursyazwani Saiful Sham & Azib Zikry, siaran langsung dari World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, sempena pelancaran Malaysia Artificial Intelligence Nexus.
Diskusi bersama Dr. Muhammad Akmal Remli, Pengarah AIBIG, Fakulti Sains Data Dan Komputeran Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) & Prof Dr Amir Akramin Shafie Kulliyyah of Engineering (KOE) Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM).
#AWANInews #AWANIPagi
Diskusi bersama Dr. Muhammad Akmal Remli, Pengarah AIBIG, Fakulti Sains Data Dan Komputeran Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) & Prof Dr Amir Akramin Shafie Kulliyyah of Engineering (KOE) Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM).
#AWANInews #AWANIPagi
Serangan kapal terkait Israel akan dipertingkat - Houthi
Kumpulan Houthi akan menyasarkan kapal mana-mana syarikat pembekal barangan yang berkaitan dengan Israel tanpa mengira destinasi mereka.
AWANI Ringkas: Wanita sukar keluar daripada garis kemiskinan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
'MFL jangan bersikap ego'
Mohd Faizal berkata, penundaan tarikh dibuat atas faktor keselamatan bukan sahaja pengurusan pasukan dan pemain, malah penyokong.
Britain bantu Gaza, laksana 'airdrop' ke-11
Ia bagi membantu rakyat Palestin yang kelaparan di Gaza kerana lintasan ditutup oleh Israel.
'Kami akan berjuang menggunakan hanya kuku, jika perlu' - Netanyahu
Netanyahu tidak mengendahkan tekanan antarabangsa yang semakin meningkat untuk bersetuju dengan gencatan senjata.
Haji: Fokus doa dan solat sunat ketika di Raudah, bukan sibuk mengambil gambar
Jemaah haji yang berpeluang menziarahi Raudah di Masjid Nabawi, dinasihatkan tidak terlalu teruja dan sibuk mengambil gambar.
Politik kerjasama akan terus jadi tunjang - Loke
Loke berkaata politik kerjasama akan terus menjadi tunjang Pakatan Harapan dan kerajaan perpaduan, seperti mana yang sudah digagaskan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin terdahulu.
Mahu tunai haji, ikut saluran betul, dapatkan permit
Mereka yang mahu mengerjakan haji diminta mengikut saluran yang betul dengan memohon permit untuk menunaikan rukun Islam kelima itu atau berdepan penalti 10,000 Riyal dan diusir daripada Arab Saudi.