Thousands at HK democracy protests
Thousands protected by umbrellas gather outside government headquarters in central Hong Kong as Occupy Central launches a disobedience campaign seeking greater reform. The Chinese government in Beijing has refused to allow residents of HK to choose the candidates for the upcoming elections … in effect meaning that Hong Kong will be governed like the rest of China, as a part of China’s corporate state. This reneges on the promise of democracy made when Britain ceded Hong Kong to Beijing.
The umbrellas are at least a symbolic defense for the estimated 1 million protestors (out of seven million citizens of HK) against the police and their tear gas.
Meanwhile, Xinhua, China’s official newspaper has stories about Japan’s Mt. Ontake eruption leaves at least 36 dead, Replicability key to Shanghai FTZ success, 21 killed in eastern Ukraine as ceasefire falters, Beidou sat nav sees increasing civil use, China’s key stock index hits 19-month high, China approves 2 more private banks and Confucianism. HONG KONG??