Hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators blocked the streets of central Hong Kong again on Sunday. As the protest entered its third week, students addressed their grievances directly to Beijing in a letter calling for the semi-autonomous region's chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, to resign.

In the letter, dated Saturday, the students said Leung "manipulated" a report to the Chinese legislature omitting the viewpoints of hundreds of thousands of democracy advocates, and saying it ignored the "Hong Kong people's genuine wishes."

The protesters want Leung to resign. Their determination was sharpened last week when an Australian newspaper claimed Leung had failed to disclose $6.4 million (5.06 million euros) in payments from an Australian engineering company. Leung denied he had done anything wrong, did not need to disclose the payments, and, in a television interview on Sunday, said he would not resign.

The two largest student groups which have spearheaded the sit-in protests appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping in the open letter to rescind an August 31 decision by China's legislature. It set guidelines for an election plan that the students believe ensures that only pro-Beijing candidates will appear on the ballot to choose the chief executive. The students want nominees to be chosen by voters.

Zero chance

On Sunday, Leung rejected the student demands, saying that the possibility of a reversal of the Chinese legislature's decision was "almost nil." He criticized the student movement, calling it "out of control." On Saturday, the state-run China News Service called the students' demands "arrogant and ignorant."

Hong Kong operates as a semi-autonomous region under an agreement that ended British rule over the city in 1997. Hong Kong's chief executive is currently picked by a small group of about 1,200 electors, most of whom support Beijing.

Talks between student leaders and Hong Kong officials broke down last week, as protesters vowed to dig in for the long haul. Despite repeated orders to disperse, the students have set up tents, portable showers and lecture venues.

There was a heated stand-off Sunday as two hundred members of a pro-government group, describing themselves as a 'Blue Ribbon Movement,' marched on demonstrators in the Mongkok district with police intervening to keep the two groups apart.

So far, the police have not moved in. "We've resorted to all kinds of persuasions, the way we resolve it in the end is being constantly reviewed," Leung said. "We absolutely would not prefer clearing the venue, but if one day the venue has to be cleared, I believe the police will use their professional judgement and training using minimum amount of force."

jm/rc (AFP, Reuters)