Hong Kong’s leader warned Tuesday that violence will not be tolerated, a day after authorities arrested 10 people and seized suspected explosives ahead of a crucial vote on a China-backed electoral reform package this week.

Security has been stepped up across the Chinese-ruled city, including at government buildings and train stations.

“Hong Kong society should not tolerate any illegal activities. Whether these are violent or non-violent, we should not allow any illegal activities to be justified,” Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said in a televised briefing ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting.

Beijing has proposed a direct vote for Hong Kong’s next leader in 2017, but only from among pre-screened, pro-Beijing candidates. Democracy activists say they want a genuinely democratic vote. Pro-democracy protesters are staging evening rallies throughout the week.

bbabo.Net