Hong Kong protests: Rallies as National Day marked

Hong Kong leader CY Leung has urged protesters to back reforms set out by Beijing, amid huge pro-democracy rallies in the territory, the BBC reported.

Speaking on the National Day holiday, Mr Leung said Hong Kong should work with Beijing to achieve progress.

The protesters want Beijing to withdraw plans to vet candidates for the next Hong Kong leadership election in 2017.

Activists say they expect the biggest crowds yet on the streets to coincide with the holiday.

Mr Leung, Hong Kong's chief executive, has rejected campaigners' calls for him to stand down. Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed Beijing's control over the territory.

Early on Wednesday, Mr Leung attended a ceremony in Hong Kong marking National Day, which celebrates the founding of communist China in 1949.

The flag-raising ceremony went ahead peacefully, as student protesters looked on. The authorities have cancelled a fireworks display that was due to take place later in the day, however.

Addressing officials, Mr Leung said that while people had different ideas about what constituted a "desirable reform package," it was better to have the right to vote than not.

"We hope that all sectors of the community will work with the government in a peaceful, lawful, rational and pragmatic manner to... make a big step forward in our constitutional development," he said.