Protests in Hong Kong

CENTRAL, HONG KONG, HONG KONG SAR, CHINA - 2014/10/01: On Wednesday 1st October 2014, during a public holiday to mark the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, slogans and graffiti are scrubbed from the streets by protestors themselves as young people participate in the fourth day of the pro-democracy protest known as "Occupy Central", blocking traffic on major roads in downtown Hong Kong. The mood continues to be calm and non-violent, whereas three days earlier, protestors faced tear gas and pepper spray from police in full riot gear. The Occupy Central civil disobedience movement began in response to China's decision to allow only Beijing-vetted candidates to stand in the city's 2017 election for the top civil position of chief executive. (Photo by Stefan Irvine/LightRocket via Getty Images)