MOSCOW, September 29 (RIA Novosti) - Thousands of pro-democracy protesters have come out to Hong Kong streets in continuation of a student-led protest, blocking the central district and raising fears of the financial center's investors.
"Heavy-handed approaches to the students will surely backfire," Bloomberg reported Michael Davis, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, as saying Monday. "Hong Kong people have proven time and time again that if the government handles public concerns badly, the public will mobilize against them."
The protests have raised fears of Hong Kong investors, who have made arrangements to work outside the financial district by early Monday morning, according to Bloomberg.
People gathered to demonstrate support to a student protest, led by Occupy Central with Love and Peace group that started on September 26 to oppose the plans of Chinese government to control Hong Kong 2017 leadership election. Occupy Central with Love and Peace group's activists claim that China fails to keep its promise to maintain the city's autonomy under "one country, two systems" formula.
Anti-riot police used pepper spray and tear gas in suppressing the protest.
"One country, two systems" is a constitutional principle suggested by Deng Xiaoping that contributed to the reunification of China in 1980s. The principle implies that Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan retain their own economic and political systems, as well as the right to maintain external relations with third countries.
