Pro-democracy protests continue to grow in Hong Kong

Pro-democracy protestors, some wearing surgical masks and holding up umbrellas to protect against tear gas, expanded their rallies throughout Hong Kong today, defying calls to disperse in a major pushback against Beijing's decision to limit democratic reforms in the Asian financial hub.

The mass protests are the strongest challenge yet to Beijing's decision last month to reject open nominations for candidates under proposed guidelines for the first-ever elections for Hong Kong's leader, promised for 2017. Instead, candidates must continue to be hand-picked by Beijing — a move that many viewed as breaking promises to allow greater democracy in the semi-autonomous territory.

The protest has been spearheaded largely by student-age activists but has gathered momentum among a broad range of people who occupied other parts of Hong Kong Island, causing a suspension in transport services and many closed roads, including a busy highway near the Hong Kong government headquarters.

The swelling ranks of protestors have taken measures to protect themselves against tear gas after police used the crowd dispersion technique yesterday, with 26 people requiring treatment in hospitals.