Student leaders of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong warned on Wednesday that if the territory's leader doesn't resign by the end of Thursday they will step up their actions, including occupying several important government buildings.
The protesters oppose Beijing's decision in August that candidates for the territory's top post in 2017 elections must be approved by a committee of mostly pro-Beijing local elites similar to the one that picked Leung for the job.
A student leader, Agnes Chow, said she hoped that Beijing would look past the flag ceremony, which took place earlier on Wednesday for China's National Day, and see "the anger and the disappointing feelings of Hong Kong people".
By raising the stakes in the standoff, the student leaders are risking another round of confrontation with the police who are unlikely to allow government buildings to be stormed.
It also puts pressure on the Chinese government, which has so far remained silent, preferring to let Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying deal with the crisis.
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