(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrators massed outside the offices of the city's embattled leader early today in a tense stand-off with police, with calls growing for him to resign as mass protests grip the city.
Around 200 police equipped with riot helmets, gas masks and shields stood firm behind metal barricades as more than 3,000 protesters gathered outside Leung Chun-ying's office in the early hours, with some saying they wanted to storm the building, a reporter at the scene said.
A car nearly hit the crowd as it swerved past, further raising tensions as the protesters yelled at the police from behind the barricades and chanted for Leung - seen by critics as a Beijing stooge - to step down.
"We're trying to surround the entire government complex and wait for CY (Leung) to come back to work on Friday (after Thursday's public holiday)," protester Thomas Choi said.
"We want to talk to him face to face."
The spike in tensions came after three days of peaceful demonstrations that have seen tens of thousands of people take over Hong Kong highways, calling for Beijing to allow free elections in the semi-autonomous city.
On Wednesday night, one of the student leaders organising the protests threatened to step up the action - including a possible attempt to occupy government offices - if Leung did not resign by today.
"We will consider having different operating actions in future days, including occupying other places like important government offices," said Agnes Chow of student movement Scholarism.
Students have been at the forefront of the demonstrations but others have swelled their ranks since riot police tear-gassed protesters on Sunday night, in chaotic scenes that triggered an outpouring of support.
In a sign of Beijing's growing unease over the situation, local Hong Kong tourism representative said Chinese travel agents were reporting that group tourist visas to the city had been suspended,
October 1-7 is known as "Golden Week" in mainland China, a key shopping holiday that sees many travel to the southern Chinese city.
The stand-off at Leung's offices came after vast crowds poured onto the streets for a fourth sweltering night.
There was a mixed response to the call for an escalation of action.
"We need to escalate the movement," said 23-year-old student Jason Chan. "So many people have come out every day and the government hasn't responded to us. If we don't take things to the next level, this movement is pointless."
But many others were reluctant to take any action that could prompt further clashes with the police.
"I think we should keep this a peaceful revolution," said costume designer Janice Pang. "Hong Kong people may not support us if we do something more extreme."
The protesters are furious at the central government's refusal to allow free elections for the city's next leader in 2017, insisting that only two or three candidates vetted by a pro-Beijing committee will be permitted to stand.
They call this "fake democracy" and have two demands - that Leung steps down and that Beijing reverses its decision.
China yesterday issued a warning to the Washington to stay out of the situation, brushing off US calls for restraint and saying the protests were none of its business.
"The Chinese government has very firmly and clearly stated its position. Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State John Kerry ahead of talks.
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