Hong Kong Police Warn Protesters; Some Protesters Begin Hunger Strike

Hong Kong authorities issued a strong warning to protesters who have occupied central Hong Kong, as an arrested protest leader at the center of the movement announced that he would begin a hunger strike.

Reuters reports that Hong Kong's highest ranking authority, Leung Chun-ying, announced that the police would take, "resolute action," to disperse protesters who temporarily succeeding in shutting down the government's headquarters.

Protests in Hong Kong have been ongoing for the last two months. They have their origins in the fact that the central government in Beijing has said they will not allow open elections for the chief administrator in Hong Kong. Instead, candidates for the election must first be approved by Beijing.

This goes against the practice of "one country, two systems," which was agreed upon when Great Britain handed over control of Hong Kong to China in 1997. That practice was supposed to have been guaranteed until 2047, but Beijing's actions suggest that honoring that pledge is no longer in Beijing's plans.

Although the headquarters was temporarily closed on Monday, the police soon regained control of the area, according to Reuters. A number of businesses also had to temporarily close their doors as police and demonstrators clashed. At least 40 people were arrested.

Reuters also reports that Joshua Wong, an 18-year-old who has been instrumental in organizing and sustaining the protests, announced that he would begin a hunger strike. He will be joined in that effort by two others, including a high school student.

The months long protests are beginning to take their toll on the local economy. Reuters says that retail spending for the period during the protests has declined. Hong Kong's finance minister has also alleged that the protests will result in the territory missing its forecasted economic growth of 2.2 percent.