Police order Hong Kong demonstrators to disperse; chief executive refuses to resign

HONG KONG, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Hong Kong police instructed pro-democracy protesters to disperse Thursday, warning them that attempts to surround or occupy government buildings would be met with "impartial and decisive enforcement."

Protest leaders said Wednesday they would occupy government buildings if Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying did not resign by Thursday evening.

Leung refused to step down as the midnight deadline approached, telling reporters at a news conference "I will not resign because I need to continue to finish working on universal suffrage so that Hong Kong's five million voters can to the polling booth and elect the chief executive."

The demonstrations, which began on Sept. 26, have so far been mostly peaceful. Police spokesman Steve Hui cautioned that any violent acts by protesters would have "serious consequences."

The Chinese government issued a stern warning in an editorial published Thursday by the People's Daily newspaper, declaring the protests illegal and that their continuation would yield "unimaginable" consequences.

While the protesters say they will negotiate with the Hong Kong and Chinese government, Lester Shum, a leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students who helped organize the protest, insists "we will not talk to C.Y. Leung."

At Leung's press conference Thursday evening, he said his second in command, chief secretary Carrie Lam, would be available to meet with the Hong Kong Federation of Students to talk about "constitutional development matters."