Thousands of pro-democracy protesters covered the streets of Hong Kong on Wednesday during National Day and the fifth day of a mass campaign which aims to occupy sections of the city and express fury at a Chinese decision to limit voters' choices in a 2017 leadership election, according to The Associated Press.
The protesters, upset that Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has refused to meet them, have threatened to expand their demonstrations unless he resigns and the Chinese leadership agrees to broader electoral reforms, according to the AP.
After the hundreds of protesters yelled at Leung to step down, they then fell silent and turned their backs when the ceremony began, the AP reported.
Protesters feared police would use force to move crowds before Wednesday's start to celebrations marking the anniversary of the Communist Party's foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, but no clashes have been reported, the AP reported.
The crowds have brought large sections of the Asian financial hub to a standstill, disrupting businesses from banks to jewelers, according to the AP.
Riot police had used tear gas, pepper spray and baton charges at the weekend to try to quell the unrest, but tensions have eased since then as both sides appeared prepared to wait it out, the AP reported.
Protests spread from four main areas to Tsim Sha Tsui, a shopping area popular with mainland Chinese visitors. It would usually do roaring trade during the annual National Day holiday, according to the AP.
Protest leaders urged crowds not to disturb the flag-raising ceremony on the Victoria Harbor waterfront on Wednesday morning, the AP reported.
