Hong Kong protests: 'Umbrella Revolution' overshadows China's National Day

• As the police held conference, Occupy central told the media to ask them whether they will apologise for the ugly crackdown on protesters during the weekend. Tear gas and pepper spray were used on the protesters by the police, to avoid which the crowds used umbrellas to shield themselves, earning the name "Umbrella Revolution".

Media, pls ask police whether they intend to apologize to HK people! — Occupy Central 和平佔中 (@OCLPHK) October 1, 2014

• Hong Kong Police held a press conference, repeated their request to the protesters to clear the roads for emergency vehicles. They called on Occupy Central protesters to reopen the roads as the so-called "humanitarian corridors" made by the protesters will take time.
• After reports of China detaining dozens of activists backing Hong Kong protests, Amnesty International has asked Chinahas called on China to "immediately and unconditionally" release all those detained in China for supporting the protests. "The rounding up of activists in mainland China only underlines why so many people in Hong Kong fear the growing control Beijing has in their city's affairs," spokesman William Nee said in a statement, reported the BBC.
• Almost moving to tears, he asked for their tolerance, adding that the protests were just a “short-term inconvenience” but meant to bring a long-term harmony.
• An emotionally overwhelmed Chan also apologised to the citizens of Hong Kong for the inconvenience caused to them by sit-ins and traffic snarls, and requested them to understand that the protesters did not mean to harm Hong Kong.
• "I hope everyone will understand what we are doing is not to harm Hong Kong,” he said.
• Occupy Central co-founder Chan Kin-man reiterated his threat to widen the protests, if the government remained firm on its hardline stance.
• "We understand why citizens are continuing to expand the occupation, it is because the government is so cold," said an impassioned Chan, taking pauses in between to keep himself composes, reported the AFP.

• China's National Day also marks the beginning of the Golden week, which is a seven-day holiday time for Chinese people. Even though Hong Kong doesn't celebrate Golden week, it witnesses a heavy stream of visitors trickling in during these 7 days and businesses like shops, hotels have a gala time as it is the busiest time for shopping.
  But this time, it seems that the protests have stolen the lustre off the Golden week as most of the shops remain shut.

GoldenWeek is big shopping time for mainlanders in HK. Tiffany, Coach, VanCleef&Arpels reported closed. Others? — Occupy Central 和平佔中 (@OCLPHK) October 1, 2014

• "I'm here today with the yellow umbrella because it stands against the shooting of tear gas at the children of Hong Kong. I think we have destroyed the values of Hong Kong earlier this weekend by shooting tear gas at children," Zimmerman said.In a bold show of support for the democracy protesters, district councillor Paul Zimmerman was seen flashing a yellow ribbon and a yellow umbrella- both symbolising the umbrella revolution.

At the National Day reception, Paul Zimmerman wore a yellow ribbon and held up a yellow umbrella amid the crowds. pic.twitter.com/71Vrq2z4US — HKDemoNow (@hkdemonow) October 1, 2014

• According to media reports, Hng Kong's embattled leader was heckled by pro-democracy protesters, as he came to attend the flag raising ceremony for China's National Day. The protesters have have been demanding his resignation, but there has been no indication that he will quit.
• Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters managed to steal the show on a day when various celebrations were scheduled to mark China's National Day. Protesters thronged ceremonial venues like Golden Bauhinia Square and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center  and blocked several tycoons and oligarchs as they entered to make speeches, reported the TIME.
• “It’s China’s National Day not Hong Kong’s,” TIME quoted a protester as saying.
• In what highlights China's worries about rebellion vibes from Hong Kong spreading to Beijing, dozens of mainland activists have been detained or intimidated for expressing support for Hong Kong protests, reported the CHRD (Chinese Human Right Defenders).

BREAKING: Dozens detained across China for supporting Hong Kong protests, reports CHRD http://t.co/g0LQYv1GOs Fears of democratic contagion

— Philip P. Pan (@panphil) October 1, 2014

listen to ‘Demonstrating for democracy in Hong Kong’ on audioBoom

• Reiterating 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."
• US Secretary of State John Kerry would meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi today to discuss the protests, state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
• The White House has responded to a petition by pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong, reiterating that the United States supports "universal suffrage in Hong Kong”. The White House also urged the authorities to exercise restraint and protesters to act peacefully.
• “We believe the legitimacy of the chief executive would be greatly enhanced if the basic law's ultimate aim of selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage is fulfilled," the statement said.

Full official US White House response to HK pro-democracy petitioners https://t.co/bDIeZ6FGw6 pic.twitter.com/Hi8Ky0DG2m — Occupy Central 和平佔中 (@OCLPHK) October 1, 2014

• Keeping in mind the repercussions in wake of the protests, the authorities have cancelled the spectacular fireworks display, which is organised to mark China's National Day each year.
• Hong Kong streets are expected to be thronged by a thicker crowd today as it is a holiday marking China's National day, and it coincides with the deadline set by the pro-democracy protesters to intensify their campaign.

Hong Kong is witnessing an unprecedented demonstration by tens of thousands of people, protesting against China's vetting of candidates for first-ever elections for Hong Kong's leader scheduled for 2017.

China has so far been hand-picking the leaders of Hong Kong and even this time it insists on a 1200 committee to screen the candidates for 2017 polls, based on their loyalty to China.

The protests that began a week ago in the form of a boycott by university and college students demanding electoral reforms, picked momentum on Sunday after the leaders of Occupy Central civil disobedience movement joined them, a day after the police crackdown on demonstrators turned ugly.

Hong Kong police clamped down harshly on the protesters in the beginning during the weekend, using tear gas and pepper spray and detaining dozens, but the riot police were withdrawn by the authorities on Monday.