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PHOTOS: #Occupy takes over the streets of Hong Kong

September 29, 2014 11:16 IST

Riot police fire teargas to disperse protesters after thousands of demonstrators blocked the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

And so they are protesting on the streets of Hong Kong. People are angry at China’s decision not to allow the citizens of the former British colony to choose their next leader.

A protester sits as he blocks the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong KongPhotograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

The movement, which has not come to be known as ‘Occupy Central with Love and Peace’ began in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Demonstrators disperse as tear gas is fired by police during a protest. Photograph: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

The aim? To paralyse an administrative area of Hong Kong and place pressure on the Beijing establishment.

Riot police use pepper spray as they clash with protesters, as tens of thousands of protesters block the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong. Photograph: Bobby Yip/ Reuters

He predicted that at least 10,000 citizens would join the protest to take over Central in July 2014 if the universal suffrage for the 2017 chief executive election and 2020 legislative council Elections would not be carried out according to the "international standards". 

A protester throws an umbrella at riot police as fellow demonstrators blocked the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong. Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters

Elections for Hong Kong’s leader are due to take place in 2017 and will use votes from the general public for the first time.

A protester walks in tear gas fired by riot policemen after thousands of protesters blocking the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong. Photograph: Stinger/Reuters

According to Wikipedia, the campaign was initiated by Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Hong Kong, in January 2013.

Traffic stands still as tens of thousands of protesters jam the main street leading to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong. Photograph: Bobby Yip/Reuters