China
by Xian Wan and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Hong Kong
John Sudworth: "If fear and violence are being used... it could well have backfired"
Hong
Kong's leader has warned protesters that police will take "all actions
necessary" to ensure government offices and schools reopen on Monday.
In a televised speech on Saturday, CY Leung called on
demonstrators to allow the government and citizens to "resume their
normal work and life". His comments came after street fights led to the postponement of talks between protesters and the government.
Activists are angry at China's plans to vet candidates to replace Mr Leung.
Thousands of protesters have been occupying parts of the city for just over a week to demand free elections in 2017.
Earlier this week, Chief Executive CY Leung offered talks to defuse the situation but they broke down after clashes on Friday.
Last night the confrontations became ugly as groups of thugs attacked the crowds of students, punching them and throwing bottles.
Hong Kong's government has angrily denied accusations that the police turned a blind eye or, worse, colluded.
But if fear and violence is now being used as a tactic it would seem to be a risky one.
The protests are localised, even in Hong Kong, and across the wider country, heavy media censorship means they barely register at all.
If they want to the Chinese authorities can probably afford to watch and wait.
Thousands of protesters remain on the streets of Hong Kong, a week after they began demonstrating
Tensions remained high on Saturday at the three main protest sites, but the scuffles were not as bad as Friday's violence.
'Social order must resume' Mr Leung said he "strongly condemned" the violence but warned that it was likely to continue unless "social order" resumed.
"The government and the police have the responsibility and resolution to take all actions necessary to resume social order and let the government and all seven million citizens resume their normal work and life," he said.
He said the "most urgent thing" was for protesters to allow government staff to return to work and to clear main roads so schools can reopen on Monday.
"I hope [the protest] organisers and participants pay attention to the interests of the whole and immediately stop the rallying activities in the roads," he added.
Protesters "feel they are under attack from thugs," says Carrie Gracie
Occupy Central leader, Benny Tai: "It is difficult to have dialogue if there is violence against peaceful protesters"
Hong Kong's security chief, Lai Tung-kwok, denied that gangs of organised criminals had been employed to try to clear the pro-democracy protesters from the streets.
Triad arrests Police said they had arrested 19 people who had been involved in the fighting, adding that eight of them had "triad backgrounds".
Correspondents say triads have traditionally been known for drug-running, prostitution and extortion networks but have in recent years become involved in legitimate ventures like property development and finance.
Some are also believed to have links with the political establishment, fueling protesters' accusations that they have been paid by the authorities to stir up trouble at the protest sites.
At the heart of the row between the protesters and the government is China's insistence on tight rules on nominations for candidates wanting to stand for election in 2017.
The protesters say the restrictions mean the polls will fall short of the free elections they are seeking and have called for Mr Leung to step down.
But the central government in Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail".
- 1997: UK gives Hong Kong back to China under a 1984 agreement giving it "a high degree of autonomy" for 50 years
- 2004: China says it must approve any changes to Hong Kong's election laws
- June-July 2014: Pro-democracy activists hold an unofficial referendum on political reform; both sides hold large rallies
- 31 August 2014: China says it will allow direct elections in 2017 but will pre-approve candidates
- 22 September 2014: Student groups launch a week-long boycott of classes
- 28 September 2014: Occupy Central and student protests join forces and take over central Hong Kong
- 2017: Direct elections for chief executive due to take place
- 2047: Expiry of current agreements
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