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            China: Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protests 'Doomed to Fail'

   by VOA News

   China's Communist Party is warning pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong
   Kong are "doomed to fail," as the territory's Beijing-friendly chief
   executive rejected protester demands to resign.

   A front-page editorial Friday in the party-run People's Daily repeated
   Beijing's assertion that the protests are illegal, saying there is "no
   room for concessions" on greater democratic reforms.

   The editorial was published after Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying
   ignored a midnight deadline to step down, instead proposing talks with
   a top official on resolving the political crisis.

   Many protest leaders, including those with the prominent Occupy Central
   group, have cautiously welcomed the proposed talks, though it is not
   clear when they will take place.

   Only around 100 protesters remained early Friday outside Leung's
   office, down from the thousands that had gathered ahead of the
   ultimatum. Minor scuffles with police broke out, though no violence was
   reported.

   A possible escalation was averted late Thursday when protesters failed
   to follow through on their threats to occupy government buildings if
   Leung did not resign. Police had warned they would respond firmly to
   such a move.

   Some expect the protests to be smaller Friday, the first day back to
   work for Hong Kong residents following a two-day holiday. Stocks
   quickly fell nearly 1.4 percent at opening, extending losses incurred
   before the holiday.

   Demonstrators have occupied several main thoroughfares in Hong Kong
   since last Friday to protest China's move to vet candidates seeking to
   replace Leung in 2017 elections.
   The protests mark the biggest unrest in Hong Kong since Beijing took
   control of the one-time British colony in 1997.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/china-hong-kong-pro-democracy-protest
   s-will-fail/2471070.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/china-hong-kong-pro-democracy-protests-will-fail/2471070.html