Most people in Hong Kong seek end to street protests

22 Nov Press TV

In a sign of waning public support for protests against an election law in Hong Kong, a new poll suggests most people in the region want an end to the street demonstrations. A recent survey released by the Chinese University of Hong Kong revealed that 67.4 percent of respondents said anti-election law protesters should leave the streets of Hong Kong. The poll also revealed wavering public support for the protesters, with 43.5 percent of those surveyed opposing the movement, and only 33.9 percent giving their support.In early November, organizers of an anti-protest campaign also gathered more than 1.8 million signatures from Hong Kong residents, demanding that police free roads and restore law and order.On November 15, media posted an eviction notice to protesters occupying the main Admiralty site, next to the central business district, suggesting that police may at any moment clear the street blockades in line with court-ordered injunctions.Protesters launched a campaign of occupying government buildings in Hong Kong on September 27.

Police and protesters have clashed on many occasions ever since.Demonstrators are still entrenched at key intersections with a so-called tent city spread across the main Admiralty site.

The protesters are opposed to an election law introduced by the government in Beijing, under which the people of Hong Kong will have to elect their next leader from a list of Beijing-vetted candidates in 2017.

The Chinese parliament, however, says nominating more candidates will cause a chaotic situation.Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The financial hub has enjoyed substantial political autonomy since 1997, when its leadership returned to China after about a century of British colonial rule.