Pro-Democracy protesters occupying the streets of Hong Kong woke up tired and wet after a drenching rain fell overnight.  They demanded to meet with Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying before midnight Tuesday – he ignored that and is pressing ahead with today’s events for China’s National Day holiday.

CY Leung is also refusing the protesters’ demands that he step down, instead telling the protesters to go home.  He insists he and Beijing will not give in to demands, and that candidates for his office in the 2017 election will have to pass muster with a panel approved by the Beijing government. 

“The Central Government won't be swayed by illegal activities.  This illegal protest will not force the central government to go back on its decision of 31 August,” Leung said.

Then, he attended a ceremonial flag raising in Bauhinia Square to mark 65 years since the Communist Party seized power in China.

In Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Communist Party leaders that his government will “unswervingly implement the guidelines of ‘one country, two systems’ and the Basic Law, and steadfastly safeguard the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau”.

Hong Kong police have withdrawn from areas controlled by protesters.  There have been no reports of violence since Sunday, when cops tried to dislodge protesters with tear gas and pepper spray.