Protesters in Hong Kong stand firm in battle to stop encroaching rule by China

BEIJING - Swelling crowds of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong on Monday plunged Asia's normally staid financial hub into a tense standoff with Beijing that strikes directly at China's expanding political grip in the former British colony.

The rapidly escalating demonstrations are aimed at forcing Beijing's Communist leaders to abandon newly declared powers to weed out any candidates in forthcoming Hong Kong elections. Yet many on the streets proclaimed they are fighting for something even bigger: preserving a vision of Hong Kong promised 14 years ago when it reverted to Chinese rule.

At the time, Chinese leaders promised a state within a state: allowing special hands-off provisions for Hong Kong such as elections and a degree of self-rule in policy-making. But protesters now accuse China of reneging on the deal and trying to exert its control over every aspect of Hong Kong's political affairs.

The mounting protests present a conundrum for Beijing.

Too hard a crackdown could drive more people to the pro-democracy cause, and that would embarrass Chinese authorities, who would never permit such a challenge on the mainland. Yet, by the same token, allowing the protesters some room risks encouraging others to question Communist control in the rest of the country over such issues as media freedoms, economic development and minority rights.

"Resign," some protesters cried in jeers directed at Hong Kong's leaders, whom they perceived as unwilling to stand up to Beijing.

Even the choice of location for the protest rallies appeared a direct poke at authorities who prize Hong Kong's reputation as a place for easy commerce. Thousands of demonstrators turned multi-lane highways into open-air protest plazas and adopted the "occupy" theme of past sit-ins in Wall Street and elsewhere.

By sundown on Monday, police bolstered their ranks around blockades and cordons at some government buildings but did not renew attempts to confront or disperse the crowds.

Both sides seemed to be readying for a drawn-out duel. Protesters - led by university students and younger teens barely old enough to remember when the Union Jack flew over Hong Kong - believe they are fighting for nothing less than the future of Hong Kong as they know it.

Chinese leaders, however, are unlikely to display any sign of weakness and reverse rules laid down last month that give Communist leaders the power to weed out candidates not loyal to the party.

In a sign of digging in, Chinese state-run media, including the People's Daily, linked the protesters to "foreign anti-China forces" with alleged ties to the West. The state-backed Global Times newspaper further claimed U.S. media were trying to "stir up Hong Kong society" by drawing parallels with the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations that were crushed by Chinese authorities.

At the White House, press secretary Josh Earnest urged restraint on the part of the authorities.

"We believe that an open society with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by the rule of law is essential for Hong Kong's stability and prosperity," he said. "Indeed, this is what has made Hong Kong such a successful and truly global city to this point. We consistently made our position known to Beijing and will continue to do so."

But protesters were drawing comparisons between what they see as their peaceful approach and the response of the authorities.

"People use peace and hope, while the government used tear gas and pepper spray," said a protest leader, Benny Tai, at a rally in Hong Kong's upscale Causeway Bay section, according to the South China Morning Post.

A failed attempt by police Sunday night to intimidate the protesters - using force, tear gas, and pepper spray - appeared to backfire and brought more people to join the opposition ranks. Police said that clashes during the previous three days had left nearly 30 people and 12 police officers injured.

In an apparent reevaluation of the hard-line approach, authorities on Monday announced the withdrawal of some riot police, even as they defended their use of tear gas a day earlier.