The stage has been set for major pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong's financial district following a decision by Beijing to restrict voting reforms in the city of seven million.
The ruling, announced Sunday by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will limit candidates for the city's highest office to two or three nominees who must "love the country, and love Hong Kong."
The decision largely ignored the demands of pro-democracy groups that have staged several sizable protests in recent months calling for free and direct elections in the former British colony.
Factions of the pro-democracy movement now say they will stage mass civil disobedience actions across the city and target the financial district that is one of Asia's key business hubs.
The activists accuse China of reneging on its "one country, two systems" pledge that was a condition of Hong Kong's return in 1997.
The most visible pro-democracy group -- Occupy Central With Love and Peace -- has pledged to snarl traffic and disrupt operations in the business district. On Sunday, thousands of protesters attended a demonstration organized by the group outside the city's government offices.
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Although they share a moniker, Hong Kong's "Occupy" supporters are not affiliated with the protest movement that got its start in Manhattan's Zuccotti Park. The groups share concerns over rising income inequality, but the Hong Kong organization's immediate goal is to secure full voting rights.
The threat of civil disobedience "is our bargaining power," Benny Tai, the organizer of Occupy Central, told CNN earlier this month. "[Beijing] take us seriously, though they will never admit that."
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In a city that places great emphasis on stability, the group's plan to "occupy Central" has set many in the establishment on edge. Central houses the regional headquarters of several major international banks including Citibank, HSBC and Bank of China.
Hong Kong affiliates of the big four accounting firms -- Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG -- placed an advertisement in local newspapers in June, trumpeting their opposition to the movement. The highly unusual public intervention by multinational companies in local politics drew widespread criticism.
Various business interests and chamber of commerce organizations have also warned of dire consequences should operations be disrupted in the business district.
In a statement issued late Sunday night, Occupy Central said they had "no other choice" but to engage in civil disobedience.
"We are very sorry to say that today all chances of dialogue have been exhausted and the occupation of Central will definitely happen," the group said.
