Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters could be arrested if they remain in the streets beyond Tuesday, according to the city’s acting chief executive.
A court ruled on Monday that police could apprehend demonstrators who refused to leave the protest sites, Reuters reported. Any move by authorities could be timed with the conclusion of a regional economic summit in China, which governs Hong Kong as an administrative region.
"To those who are unlawfully occupying the roads, we call for you to leave the areas quickly and peacefully," said Carrie Lam, acting leader while chief executive Leung Chun-ying attends the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing.
The protesters are demanding fully democratic elections for the former British colony's next chief executive in 2017 instead of the vote between pre-screened candidates that Beijing has allowed.
Hong Kong media had speculated that China was waiting to clear the protesters until after the APEC summit ends on Tuesday. U.S. President Barack Obama was due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday before flying out.
Speaking in Beijing on Monday, President Obama raised concerns about freedom of speech and assembly in Hong Kong, but declined to fully back the demands of the protesters.