Hong Kong Chief Executive Says Beijing Will Not Compromise
WALKER: I'm Amara Walker at CNN Center, you're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines. Heavy rain in Hong Kong did not deter thousands of protesters who are blocking a main downtown highway. Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Hong Kong's top official and they want Beijing to give up its veto power over candidates in the next election. Hong Kong's chief executive says the protest will not change Beijing's position. Police in Baghdad say ISIS fighters attacked Iraqi army patrols and checkpoints just 12 kilometers south of the capital. At least eight Iraqi soldiers were killed. Now east of Baghdad, however, Iraq's defense ministry says Iraqi forces have ousted ISIS from 16 villages in Diyala Province. Afghanistan's new government has signed a long delayed agreement on a U.S. troop presence. The bilateral security agreement allows foreign soldiers to stay behind the end of 2014 when the international mission officially ends. Former President Hamid Karzai had rejected the deal. Let's get more now on the Hong Kong protest. Kristie Lu Stout joins me now live from the city's famous Harbor Front. And Kristie, I know we were saying that the rain did not deter the protesters. Your live shot, it got a bit hampered. It's good to have you back.</s>KRISTIE LU STOUT, CN N INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Thank you very much indeed for that. The rain is not hampering the protesters here. In fact, scores of pro-democracy protesters are spending another night on the streets of Hong Kong. They are not deterred. They are braving the elements. There was a sudden downpour about half an hour ago. They were also braving the ire of Chinese authorities. Now the protests are taking place in multiple locations across the territory here across the harbor there in Admiral T (ph), that's where Ivan Watson has been reporting, that is where he experienced being tear gassed over the weekend. Now the protests are also taking place here in Kowloon in Mong Kok, not far from my position. In fact, Nathan Row, the famous shopping district, is effectively closed off in certain parts because of the amount of protest activity there. Now you heard it time and time again what they want. The protesters, they want full universal suffrage. They also want the embattled leader of Hong Kong CY Leung to step down. Now earlier today CY Leung said that China will not compromise, China will not back down, and in fact Chinese authorities called these protests illegal. But if you talk to the demonstrators, they're not going away any time soon as Andrew Stevens found out.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely I think the main target is to have democracy, a true democracy. And for more detail, this is a very important time for Hong Kongers to have a really true democracy system like we should not accept a political reform that has a selective system.</s>ANDREW STEVENS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: OK, so you want full universal suffrage for the nomination of the candidates and the election. We've seen the police response with pepper spray and tear gas once. Does it worry you that it could happen again, or it will happen again?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course I'm afraid that it will happen again. And I'm not sure (inaudible) prepared. And I have no fear, because the people have already experienced that and I have no fear. I am with them.</s>STEVENS: Have you seen anything like this, this sort of movement among the students of Hong Kong before? Have you seen them this united?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have never seen some -- this scene in Hong Kong before. But it's -- it is similar to the student movement in China 25 years ago.</s>STEVENS: You're talking about Tiananmen Square.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. Yeah. I'm talking about in Tiananmen Square.</s>STEVENS: Do you really think that you can change Beijing's mind?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think at least we can change Hong Kong people's mind, because some people still think that this movement is letting Hong Kong to move on or damaging the economics. And I think this movement shows our determination and I hope we can touch them and let more Hong Kongers to come out and fight for true democracy.</s>STEVENS: Were you surprised by the Hong Kong police action with the pepper spray, the tear gas? Did that surprise you?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, really, because this is not -- this is not fair decision for them to use such weapon, because we are just sitting here. We are peaceful. We didn't do any--</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, actually, i'm not surprised, because I know what they should do. They should -- they are ordered to have this action. So I'm not surprised.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, I've never seen this before. So I am surprised.</s>LU STOUT: That was Andrew Stevens reporting there. Now again CY Leung, the chief executive of Hong Kong earlier today called these mass pro-Democracy protests illegal. He also said that China will not back down. So let's get the view from Beijing and cross directly to CNN's David McKenzie. He joins us live from the Chinese capital. And David, is there any hope for a compromise between Beijing and the scores of pro-Democracy protesters here in Hong Kong?</s>DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, frankly, it's too early to tell, Kristie. And certainly if you look at the place the two sides are coming from, it would seem very difficult, because the protesters want to chose who they can vote for in 2017 and the Communist Party officials are saying that that's already been decided and that they are engaging in illegal protests. So, unless one or the other side budges or gives up, then really there isn't much hope. And few see Xi Jinping who has been very strong leader here in China and in -- who has really tightened the screws on many issues from a human rights perspective here in the Mainland as someone who would really look to buckle on what they've said.</s>LU STOUT: And David, China's censorship regime -- are censors there more actively screening and blocking content about the Hong Kong protests?</s>MCKENZIE: Yes, they are. And it's quite sophisticated, in fact. You know, more so than usual, it seems. CNN's air, while it was being broadcasted in China consistently through the weekend and into this morning, subsequently it's been blacked out any time any coverage of the protests happen. I'm sure Andrew's discussion with those students was those protesters was blacked out. But then the signal comes back on when someone like CY Leung comes up or anybody criticizes the protests. So it appears that someone metaphorically at least has their finger on the button on our signal here. And certainly with Instagram cut and Facebook, Twitter, Google and all major global social media sites already unable to be accessed here in China. There is definitely a real effort by the Chinese authorities to cut any mention of this here on the Mainland.</s>LU STOUT: Not only reflects China's concern about what's happening, events on the ground here. David McKenzie joining us live from Beijing. Many thanks indeed for that. Now let's cross live to a true champion and defender of democracy here in Hong Kong. He's the pro-democracy legislator Albert Ho. And he joins me live on the line. And Albert, as we've been reporting China will not back down. Chinese authorities will not compromise. So what do the protesters who are rallying for democracy in Hong Kong, what do they realistically hope to achieve?</s>ALBERT HO, HONG KONG LEGISLATOR: I think first of all the people of Hong Kong should exercise this opportunity to make their voice once again clearly heard. And then express determination clearly to the Beijing authorities that this is what Hong Kong people want. They would not be content without seeing Beijing delivering this promise to Hong Kong according to the plan they pronounced in 2007 about implementing individual suffrage to elect a chief executive in 2017. So, if Beijing still refuses to own this promise, there would be ongoing protest. There will be ongoing movement of non-cooperation. And until the goal is achieved.</s>LU STOUT: You're saying the protesters won't move until there is true universal suffrage. There is also another demand of the protesters, they want the chief executive, the top leader here in Hong Kong CY Leung to step down. Now if he steps down, would that diffuse the tension here?</s>HO: I think this is at least a side of a good gesture showing the Beijing is willing to reconsider its position. But however the simple resignation of CY Leung would not be good enough. What Hong Kong people do want is true democracy as we have been promised. So, maybe, you know, the resignation would cool down the atmosphere to a certain extent, but still the people would continue to insist that the honor -- that the promise must be honored.</s>LU STOUT: But skeptics abroad can look at this and say can Hong Kong really have a chief executive who is truly independent of Beijing? What Hong Kong afterall is Chinese territory, is a special administrative region of China.</s>HO: Yeah. I think the Hong Kong people are now making a best endeavor to press for a change, a change for better, a change for a more just and better society, that is what we deserve. So, I think certainly this is not only a change for Hong Kong, but it might be a change for the whole, you know, a change as a starting point for the whole country. It would be very significant. But, however, I think China in fact must think carefully to allow Hong Kong to have this change first, you know, and then it set a model hopefully on the whole country, maybe take a long time, you know, to achieve what we can achieve, but still we know we deserve what we are promised.</s>LU STOUT: Now, you and your fellow pro-democracy lawmakers and protesters sound very resolute, very determined. You plan to continue your protest until you get what you want, including electoral reform, full universal suffrage, one man, one vote, the ability to choose a candidate independent of Beijing. Now, do you also calculate how Chinese authorities, how Beijing could react?</s>HO: Well, it is difficult for us to anticipate how they will react. They are of course very resistant to change, since they have just made the decision. But however they have seen how the Hong Kong people have reacted to it with resolution, with strong determination and with all the preparation for sacrifice, including sacrifice for freedom. And now you see you can see tens of thousands of people overwhelmingly young people behaving in a very restrained and a very calm manner, now blocking all -- some of the major streets in the territory. And you can see, you know, that is really something that they didn't anticipate either. So it is time that they have to rethink over this matter, you know, otherwise Hong Kong will be ungovernable. That would be a very serious repercussion not only for Hong Kong, but for the whole country.</s>LU STOUT: All right, Albert Ho, Hong Kong democrat, pro-democracy legislator joining me live on the line. Thank you very much indeed for joining us here on News Stream. Now Amara, as you heard just then, he said that people here are willing to make the sacrifice for freedom. And we are nearing October 1 here in Hong Kong and across China, which is National Day in China. It is the day of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is a day that celebrates the sovereignty of China. And yet, on this day, we are anticipating more pro-democracy protesters here in Hong Kong, because tomorrow there will be no school, businesses will be closed, and its highly likely that more protesters will be joining the protest movement there across the harbor in Admiral T (ph) and Central as well as here in Kowloon.</s>WALKER: Yeah, we are continuing to hear that unwavering stance from the protesters to push for full universal suffrage. Kristie Lu Stout, thank you. And still to come, more from Hong Kong. It is gridlock and the crowds just keep pouring in. But will Beijing buckle? That is the big question. That's what the protesters are banking on. Our live coverage continues ahead.