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Hong Kong protest: Schools, banks close amidst unrest, Taiwan joins demonstration
ABC Radio Australia - September 29, 2014
Banks and schools have been closed while some companies have told employees to stay home as demonstrations enter their second week in the city's financial district.
Protesters massed in three of the busiest districts in Hong Kong in an attempt to shut down the city and force the chief executive to talk to them about their demands for voting rights in the 2017 election.
Police asked protesters to retreat and leave the streets, but there was little sign of that happening. However, authorities ordered riot police to pull back, saying the protests had shown signs of calming down.
On Sunday night police fired volleys of tear gas, carried out baton charges and used pepper spray against the protesters.
"It was really chaotic," said Dallas Sanders, a primary school teacher in Hong Kong who was at the protest. "There was just so many people and when the tear gas canisters went off, people were yelling in Cantonese 'run, run, run'."
The government in Beijing has called the protests illegal, as has Hong Kong's leader, chief executive CY Leung. "The Hong Kong government is resolute in opposing the unlawful occupation actions by Occupy Central. The police shall continue to handle the situation in accordance with the law," Mr Leung said.
However, Mr Leung dismissed the rumours of possible military intervention from mainland China. "Some rumours are spreading non-stop – for example, the People's Liberation Army will take action, the police have fired, etc. These rumours have no basis in fact," he said. "I hope citizens can keep their calm and do not falsely believe in these rumours."
At least 30 people have been treated for injuries, with students gathering at universities around the city in protest over the Chinese government's decision to screen candidates in the 2017 election.
Taiwanese protesters show solidarity with Hong Kong
Taiwanese protesters gathered outside the lobby of the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei in a show of support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
The protesters demanded the head of the Hong Kong trade office come out and hear their demands, threatening to storm the office if no one came to speak to them. Uniformed police looked on outside the office building in Taipei's financial district.
Taiwan's president Ma Ying-jeou, who was born in Hong Kong, said the Taiwanese people were paying close attention to the events in Hong Kong and hoped Hong Kong and China could come to a mutually acceptable solution on democracy. He said the situation in Hong Kong would affect the world's perception of China.
"We are worried about the developments in Hong Kong, we are very concerned about how it will affect Hong Kong's future as well as China's international image," Mr Ma said. "Hong Kong has already become a global financial centre. Any political turbulence will have significant implications to its economic development."
He said Taiwan still maintained it did not accept the "one country, two systems" approach under which China rules Taiwan and Hong Kong.
"In the early 1980s the 'one country, two systems' concept was created for Taiwan, not for Hong Kong. But Taiwan sent a clear message that we did not accept the concept. If the system is good, then we believe it should be 'one country, one system'," he said.
Taiwan and China separated in 1949 following a civil war between the communists and nationalists, who fled to Taiwan. Taiwan has been self-ruled since then, developing into a vibrant democracy, electing its own president and legislature.
China has never renounced the use of military force to take back Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province. The protests have caused Hong Kong shares to plummet more than 2 per cent to their lowest point since July 2011. (ABC/Reuters)
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