MOSCOW, October 4 (RIA Novosti) - Thousands of protesters crammed the streets of Hong Kong on Saturday night, just hours after city administration issued a new ultimatum to clear out before Monday, CNN reported Saturday.
On Friday, the peaceful demonstrations turned violent, when the opponents of the protests started assaulting the crowd. As a result, over 50 people have been injured, according to local health officials. At least 19 people have been arrested following clashes.
Earlier today, the Hong Kong leader, C.Y. Leung in his televised speech issued an ultimatum to the protesters to clear the streets by Monday so that schools, shops and offices could resume their work.
Hong Kong pro-democracy activists have only been angered by Leung’s speech. Protesters see Leung as a puppet of Beijing and call for his prompt resignation.
Thousands of people have gathered on the streets of Hong Kong to take part in the Occupy Central with Love and Peace protests that began on September 27. Demonstrators speak against the Chinese government's plans to control the 2017 Hong Kong election.
Protesters claim Beijing has gone back on its pledge to allow universal suffrage in Hong Kong, which was promised a high degree of autonomy when it was handed back to China by Britain in 1997.
