Hong Kong protesters are warned to open roads, Report

A top protest leader in Hong Kong says blockades will be removed to allow government officials to return to work. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive had called for the demonstrators to allow clear access to government buildings by Monday.

“We only target CY (Leung), not other government officials. By opening a route, CY will have no reason or excuse to clear our occupation and spread foul rumors,” said Tai.

The decision came after Leung warned earlier in the day that the government was determined to “take all necessary actions to restore social order” and in particular allow 3,000 government staff to resume work by Monday morning.

Tens of thousands of people staged a fresh protest in the Admiralty area near the government headquarters late on Saturday.

Clashes were also reported overnight in the district of Mong Kok, with police firing pepper spray and using batons to disperse protesters.

The unrest in Hong Kong was triggered after China refused to allow open nominations for the next chief executive of Hong Kong in 2017, forcing the voters to choose from a list of two or three candidates selected by a nominating committee.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The financial hub has enjoyed substantial political autonomy since 1997, when its leadership returned to China after about a century of British colonial rule.

Agencies/Canadajournal