Student demonstrators in Hong Kong have vowed to step up their mass pro-democracy protests if Chief Executive CY Leung does not resign.
Student leader Lester Shum said protesters could start occupying government buildings if Mr Leung did not quit by Thursday.
Thousands continue to protest on the streets against China’s vetting of candidates for 2017’s leadership poll.
Ex-Governor Chris Patten accused China of reneging on its commitments.
The pro-democracy protests continued throughout Wednesday – China’s 65th National Day.
As evening fell, thousands of demonstrators remained camped out at the main protest sites in the Central business district, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok, while a fourth site opened on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, a major shopping district several roads south of Mong Kok.
‘Resign’
Mr Shum, the vice-secretary of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said: “We hope that by today or tomorrow [Thursday], Leung Chun-ying will… resign.
“Otherwise, we will announce an escalation of our movement, including occupying or surrounding different government buildings.”
Agnes Chow, of the Scholarism student movement, echoed the threat. saying: “If our chief executive and the central government do not respect and listen to our people’s opinion, we will consider having different operating actions in future days, including occupying other places like important government offices.”
Chan Kin-man, of the pro-democracy Occupy Central movement, which is also taking part in the protests, urged the students to be peaceful.
But he also called on Mr Leung to quit, saying: “We can talk to anyone in the government except him… resign for the sake of Hong Kong.”
