Return to Transcripts main page

NEWS STREAM

Special Coverage of Hong Kong Protests; Interview With Ai Weiwei; ISIS Defector, Fighter Talk Exclusively To CNN; The Soft Power Of Korean Pop Culture; Rescue On Mount Ontake Suspended

Aired September 29, 2014 - 8:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout live from the Hong Kong Harbor. And you're watching News Stream's special coverage of the protests

going on right here.

Now unprecedented show of defiance in Hong Kong. Tens of thousands of people still out on the streets. A look at what's next. Can the city's

embattled leader CY Leung hang on and how will Beijing respond?

Now we begin with the tense, but calm situation on the streets here in Hong Kong. The government is urging protesters to disperse. Let's bring

up some video from the scene. You can see recent video of the financial heart of Hong Kong.

This video from a little bit earlier in the day, thousands of pro- democracy protesters remain. They are refusing to budge. Now they want Beijing to stop what they see as interference from Beijing in the city's

affairs.

For its part, China's foreign ministry said, quote, that it firmly opposes illegal activities that undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Now on Sunday night, it was a very, very different situation. Police -- riot police, they used batons, they used pepper spray and even tear gas

on the protesters.

In all, more than 40 people were injured, including 12 police officers.

Now the protesters say that they will continue to occupy parts of Hong Kong until voters have a greater say in who runs for chief executive,

that's the top elected position here in Hong Kong in 2017.

Now scenes of unrest that we've been seeing here are remarkable because this city just doesn't experience this.

Now people here in Hong Kong have a history of organized protest marches, but the magnitude and the level of organization in these marches

is perhaps unprecedented.

Now this, let's show it to you on Google Earth, this is the main road connecting the eastern and western parts of Hong Kong island. Now

demonstrators have blocked it for two straight days, effectively cutting off road traffic and dividing the island in half.

And Sunday's tear gas, it was a sight not scene here in Hong Kong for many, many years. The last time it happened was during a World Trade

Organization summit back in 2005. But that was a demonstration against the WTO.

This, what's happening now is the first time in decades that police have deployed tear gas against Hong Kong people protesting for the future

and the political fate of Hong Kong.

Now CNN's senior international correspondent Ivan Watson, he was in the middle of it all last night. Ivan joins me now live from central Hong

Kong just across the border, or rather just across the harbor from me. And Ivan, protesters they continue to jam the streets of Hong Kong, especially

on a Monday, affecting commuters, affecting business. Describe what you've seen and the scene around you.

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's just a sea of humanity, of thousands and thousand of people chanting resign

referring to the chief executive of Hong Kong CY Leung.

I think the numbers so huge that they're overwhelming cellphone networks and jamming up our ability to broadcast here and even do kind of

basic things on your cellphone.

The youth of these demonstrators has been striking from the beginning of this protest movement a week ago when it was just a few thousand

university students and that has now swelled to numbers that have just completely coated the highway, the exit ramps, the on ramps, the pedestrian

overpasses and the adjoining streets here in front of the government headquarters in downtown Hong Kong.

And unlike the scene late last night and before dawn this morning when the security forces, the police were out behind the barricades with their

helmets, with their shields periodically firing tear gas. Now the police have largely withdrawn and they are not the target of the anger from the

crowd, instead there is a big, festive and remarkably well mannered gathering here of young people who are sharing food, sharing water and

really just showing their defiance of the Hong Kong government and the central Chinese government as well -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Riot police have pulled back today. You're now seeing around you more of a festival atmosphere, but still the protesters, despite

being peaceful they are defiant, they are angry against Beijing.

We saw earlier today, not far from where you're reporting from right now the flag of the People's Republic of China flying upside down there

above the heads of the protesters. I mean, that is just such a serious affront to Beijing. How much fury, how much anger there among the

protesters is directed squarely at China?

WATSON: Well, you know, just moments ago the demonstrators carried through this big mock-up photo of the chief executive of Hong Kong CY

Leung. And they just, you know, erupted in applause. He's been an easy target of derision and anger.

But the 800 pound gorilla, of course, is Beijing, it's the ruling Communist Party, it's Mainland China. And a refrain that I think you and I

have both heard over the course of the protests that have grown over the past week is we don't want Hong Kong to become just like any other Chinese

city, meaning the people here, these young people, most of whom were born after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre and crackdown,

they're afraid that their freedoms are being incrementally stripped away, that a more authoritarian system of government is coming to this port city,

this former British colony. And that is what is behind -- that is a worry here.

And as one senior opposition leader put it to me, if a Chinese military tank shows up in the streets here, I'll be the first person to

come out with my bicycle and try and stand in its way. That is the big fear in the back of everybody's minds what would Beijing do? They certainly

wouldn't tolerate these shows of defiance and dissent on Mainland China, but they are being tolerated for the time being here in Hong Kong.

LU STOUT: And that was a very dramatic quote from your interview earlier today with Martin Lee (ph), the pro-democracy icon here in Hong

Kong.

Now Ivan, I understand that you've also talked with U.S. consular officials. What is the United States government saying about what's

happening here in Hong Kong?

WATSON: Well, the U.S. consulate put out a statement basically appealing for calm and for the respect of people's right to air their

opposing political views and urging all sides appealing for calm.

The British government, of course the former colonial ruler of Hong Kong, also put out a statement also underlining of freedom that it says

should be enshrined according to a Sino-British agreement that was signed decades ago.

The Chinese government has come out with its own statement basically saying that these protests are illegal and urging any external powers to

avoid meddling in Hong Kong's internal affairs -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: All right, CNN's Ivan Watson joining me live from the main protest site on Hong Kong Island. Thank you, Ivan.

Now what started as an effort to occupy the central business district has spread across the territory, even across the harbor here to the Kowloon

side.

Now cars, I saw it earlier today, cars being used as street barricades. And while I was in the Mong Kok district, I didn't see a single

police officer there.

Now the protesters in Mong Kok here in Kowloon, they tell me that their mission is clear.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEVIN YAM, SOLICITOR: All I want, and all a lot of Hong Kongers want, is genuine universal suffrage, genuine democracy. We want nothing more

than that. And anyone who tries to say that we want more than that and I want to create trouble, do not understand Hong Kongers very well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now the protest forced schools and some businesses to close today, including banks and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell nearly 2

percent at the close on Monday amid all the unrest.

Banking, retail, property stocks, they were some of the biggest losers.

Now the UK has expressed concern about the situation in Hong Kong. Remember, the territory was under British rule for more than 150 years

before it was returned to China in 1997. And now, Hong Kong people, they are fighting to protect the freedoms promised to them and the handover.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: The red flag of China turned upside down, an act of defiance in Hong Kong. Since the 1997 handover from Britain to China, the

territory has been ruled under the principle of one country, two systems granting Hong Kong a range of liberties now seen in the mainland from the

freedom of speech to the right to protest.

Protesters have been exercising those rights, challenging Beijing's decision to control who can run for the city's top official post currently

held by the beleaguered CY Leung.

Last week, thousands of Hong Kong students led peaceful boycotts and protests for free and open elections. One of the protest leaders, Joshua

Wong was arrested and later released.

JOSHUA WONG, HONG KONG PROTEST LEADER (through translator): I remember that when I was at the police station, I had more than 10 wounds.

I just weight about 100 pounds, but 10 police were there to arrest me. I was shocked. I thought they would only keep me for less than 20 hours.

Neither the Occupy Central trio, nor the Federation of Students can stop this protest. CY Leung is the only person who can call a stop to this.

LU STOUT: On Sunday, the largely peaceful protests took a turn. Police in riot gear moved in on the demonstrators using tear gas to

disperse crowds and brought parts of the city to a standstill. To protect themselves, protesters wore goggles and masks and held umbrellas, now a

symbol of the protest movement.

These scenes shocked the world and residents of Hong Kong, a usually peaceful and stable financial center.

Dozens were injured.

According to a report in Chinese state media, Beijing says it is confident the Hong Kong government can handle the movement lawfully. It

says it also opposes all illegal activities that, quote, could undermine rule of law and jeopardize social tranquillity.

Today, schools and banks in parts of central Hong Kong were closed, but pro-democracy protesters say they're not going anywhere.

UNIDENTIIFED FEMALE: As long as it takes. As long as there's one person that's still out here on this highway I'm going to be here.

JIMMY LAI, FOUNDER, NEXT MEDIA (through translator): Fighting is the only thing we can do. We have no power. We either choose to be cowards or

citizens in free society. If you choose to be a coward, well, that's too bad. But if you don't want to be a coward, I think as a Hong Kong citizen

I should come out, do the little I can, and step up.

LU STOUT: And more people have stepped up to join in. Protests here in Hong Kong have spread beyond the central business district, across the

harbor here to Mong Kok Kowloon. The protesters here have been asking for CY Leung to step down.

As the protest spreads, it's proven to be an even greater challenge for authorities already struggling to contain the anger.

China's flag was flying upside today above Hong Kong's main protest site, but it wasn't there for long. Now, as the protest spread, the

question is how much longer will Beijing tolerate such an affront to its rule.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now China celebrates National Day on October 1, that's also a public holiday here in Hong Kong as part of so-called golden week. And

since people will not have to work on Wednesday and Thursday, many expect that the protests will swell.

Now Mainland visitors, they typically travel to Hong Kong during Golden Week, but even before the pro-democracy demonstrations, analysts

predicted a drop in the number of Mainland tourists.

Now we should also note here that the Hong Kong government has just canceled the National Day fireworks display. It cites safety concerns

caused by all the protests.

Now you're watching a special edition of News Stream. Still to come on the program, crowds of protesters still gathered in Hong Kong this hour.

And after the break, we go live to the Chinese capital to get the view from Beijing.

Plus, authorities suspend the search for missing hikers who maybe trapped after Japan's second tallest volcano erupts. Details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back to News Stream.

We are overlooking the Hong Kong Harbor as thousands of protesters continue to camp out all across the city. Major highways in the heart of

the city there in the central district (inaudible) as well as here in Kowloon.

Now some have dubbed Hong Kong's protest the Umbrella Revolution. Now people here frequently carry umbrellas to shade them from the blazing sun,

but they have also proven handy to shield the crowd and to protect the protesters from tear gas.

As you've probably seen already, dramatic photos, videos from protesters using their umbrellas, flipping their umbrellas inside out to

form this protective barrier against police firing tear gas and even pepper spray.

Now these umbrellas have become a symbol of defiance as a result.

Now in Japan, dozens are still missing after a volcanic eruption on Mount Ontake. But the search has been called off for now.

Now dangerous gas is spewing from the mountain making conditions there just too dangerous for rescuers to go on.

Now CNN's Will Ripley has been tracking developments at the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This road block is as close as we are safely allowed to get to Mount Ontake. You can see the emergency vehicles

that are coming through here almost continuously that are carrying the people who have been recovered from the mountain to the area where their

bodies are identified. The ash continues to rain down on us here which is why we have helmets and we're wearing face masks at times when the air gets

a bit thick. You can see the seismic activity continuing up on the mountain.

The only people who are going up there are the rescuers who are putting their lives on the line to bring back injured survivors. And also

bring back the victims, place them on ambulances, and carry them away.

Those ambulances come here to a former elementary school that has now turned into a morgue where the people who are pulled from the mountain are

taken and identified. Just a few minutes ago we watched another one of these ambulances come and they pulled a body that was wrapped in cloth.

It's a scene that we see playing out here over and over again. After a body is positively identified, then it's time to notify the family.

Kiyokasu Tokoto's (ph) son and girlfriend were on the summit just before the eruption. It's the same area where rescuers keep finding more

bodies. You can feel his grief. It's a grief shared by so many families. Their loved one climbed that mountain and now they're making their final

journey home.

Will Ripley, CNN, Mount Ontake, Japan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Ash continues to rain down.

Let's get more now on the volcano there in Japan with Mari Ramos. She joins us from the World Weather Center -- Mari.

MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, let's go ahead and take a look at this as you were saying. Some of the contrasts, you know,

such a beautiful air, you can see why people would want to walk around and hike that region, especially now in the autumn when the leaves begin to

change.

Just look down -- looking down into the valley and then now closer to the summit where it just looks completely different now, covered and

covered in ash. And you can se here, the rescue personnel that continues - - that was up on the mountain earlier. But like you mentioned, that search has been suspended for now because conditions on the mountain, or right

around there, are much too dangerous.

Let's talk a little about predicting volcanic eruptions, because we get a lot of questions about this, Kristie. Remember Bardarbunga, the

volcano in Iceland? In that volcano, we were getting a lot of reports of the earthquakes, how they were getting more tremors, for example, and that

increase, or that increase not only in the number of tremors, but also in the intensity of the tremors. Seismologists and volcanologists say it's an

indication that an eruption might be present.

So these are the kinds of things that seismologists look at. And this is some thing that they were looking at, also, in this particular volcano.

But every single volcano is different and this volcano science is really still not a sure thing. And they -- while they can monitor these things,

it's still very difficult sometimes to predict when a volcano is going to erupt.

So even though this particular volcano Ontake did have some little bit more of seismic activity, it actually kind of slowed down quite a bit right

before the eruption happened, so they didn't think they needed that warning.

So, another thing that they look at is swelling, or ground deformation, that's when you hear about the lava dome, for example. It

kind of begins to move around a little bit, the ground actually swells up, that can be measured either by looking at it, or by satellite observations

even.

And then the other thing that they look at very carefully is gases and heat coming out of the volcano. If you see a marked increase in the

temperature of the volcano or the areas around it, that is a concern, or if you begin to see changes in the composition of the gases that are coming

out of the volcano.

So, they monitor this very, very carefully. And in this particular case now after the eruption, they're having to deal with all of these

volcanic gases that are coming out. And the reason I want to mention these two you is because the one in particular that authorities mentioned in this

case is hydrogen sulfide. And that would be that smell of rotten eggs that you smell sometimes from sewers or from swamps, that's the kind of smell

that's coming out of here and that is a very dangerous gas in large quantities. And that is why, one of reasons, anyway, why that search had

to be suspended, that search and rescue in that area.

As we look at this area, one of the concerns is going to be, Kristie, when we begin to see changes. We see more earthquakes, for example, that

level alert three still remains, because that could cause landslides because of all the sand, and rain.

Fortunately, we're not going to see any rain in this area, we're not expecting any, until the end of the week. So hopefully that will give the

rescuers some time.

Back to you.

LU STOUT: Yeah, thank you for going through all of the various threats and dangers that the rescuers are facing still. Mari Ramos there.

Take care.

Now you are watching News Stream. And coming up next on the program, with Hong Kong's blatant message of defiance, we'll be going live to the

Chinese capital Beijing for a look at how China is responding. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout live at the Hong Kong Harbor. And all around me here in Kowloon and across the harbor there in Hong Kong island,

protests are still going strong. The situation on the streets appears tense, but peaceful.

Now in of the world's most connected cities, not much of a surprise that much of the protest action has been organized through social media.

Now protesters are placing calls to action on massive chat groups with apps like WhatsApp. They've also been issuing FireChat, an app, it does

not need a mobile network to function.

Now FireChat can form its own network. And it does it by connecting to all the phones around it, which is perfect for situations where mobile

reception becomes or is unreliable.

But while social media is playing a big part here, just across the border in Mainland China it is a very, very different story. They have

blocked Instagram today where plenty of pictures of the Hong Kong protests have been circulating.

Now we have Instagrams from our reporters on the ground in this online gallery.

Now this one was taken by Ivan Watson on Sunday. You can find out more at CNN.com/scenes.

Now, the Asian Games, they are taking place right now in South Korea. And for athletes representing their countries, winning and losing is more

than just a matter of personal pride. And if you're from North Korea, the stakes are even higher.

Now Paula Hancocks spoke to one boxer who defected from that reclusive nation about the stress that athletes face there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (through translator): Choi Hyun Mi packs a mean punch. World champion in

featherweight and super featherweight boxing representing South Korea after escaping from North Korea 10 years ago.

She tells me how competitive the training was in the north.

"Kids from a poor family had a very strong sense of rivalry," she says, "as they earn extra money and food if they win the sparring. But for

me, from a rich family, it wasn't about food and money, I just hated losing.

She says her peers were desperate to win to please Kim Jong-il, the late North Korean leader.

Choi's drive here in South Korea is knowing her father gave up a successful business in the North to give her a more normal life.

Financially, it's harder for them in the South -- she's still looking for sponsorship. But she knows she is far better off than those North Korean

athletes currently here for the Asian games.

Choi says that the worst-case scenario for a North Korean athlete is not just losing, it's losing against someone who is from South Korea, from

Japan, or from the United States. She says in that case, it is very rare for that sports person to compete again.

The fact North Korea athletes are even in the South for the games and competing in a country, which is considered enemy territory, is progress in

itself. The two Koreas are still technically at war.

JASPER KIM, EWHA UNIVERSITY: It shows that North Korea wants to make this trip very visible, that maybe other forms of diplomacy -- traditional

diplomacy and cultural diplomacy, I mean, they're trying everything. It may not be working optimally.

HANCOCKS: One political hiccup before the athletes even arrived, all national flags were taken down from the streets of host city Incheon as the

North Korean flag is not allowed to be flown in the south outside of a sporting stadium.

Choi, though, is proud to be fighting under the South Korean flag. As a professional, she's not eligible for the Asian games, and seems relieved

she will not be fighting against a North Korean contender knowing if she wins, her rival could be out of a job.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream.

And still to come, thousands of protesters here in Hong Kong are in a showdown against Beijing. We've got the view from the mainland after the

break.

And later in the hour, CNN sits down with an ISIS fighter. It is a rare look into the radical jihadist group. And do stay with us for that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Now tens of thousands of protesters here in Hong Kong are standing strong and they are calling for true universal suffrage. Now there is anger

over Beijing's growing intervention in Hong Kong's internal affairs. Protesters say that they have planned to continue disrupting traffic and

some business in the city until their demands are met.

Now there have been at least 12 airstrikes in Syria and Iraq in the past 24 hours. Now aircraft destroyed some refineries, armored vehicles

and a small command center in Syria. And despite the airstrikes, ISIS fighters are closing in on the key Syrian city of Kobani.

Authorities have suspended the search for more missing hikers on Japan's Mount Ontake. Now gas is spewing from the mountain, making

conditions just too dangerous for rescuers to go on.

Now so far, authorities have recovered the remains of 12 people. At least 24 others are presumed dead.

Now let's return to our top story this hour, the ongoing protests here in Hong Kong. And so far, there is calm on the streets, unlike Sunday's

clashes between riot police and protesters, but the pro-democracy activists and icon Martin Lee says the demonstrators won't be intimidated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN LEE, FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: If they want to clear the streets of Hong Kong like they cleared Tiananmen Square in

1989, of course they can do it, but (inaudible) in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong people I think many of them will not be scared. I certainly will not

be scared. And I've said it before and say it again, if I see a tank from a Chinese troops in Hong Kong, I will get myself a bicycle and stand right

in front of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Martin Lee there.

Now the Hong Kong chief executive CY Leung has penned recently an opinion piece for CNN.com. In it he says the city must not let what he

calls raw emotion cloud the debate on universal suffrage. You can read the rest on our website.

Now China's Communist Party leaders, they are keeping a close eye on events here in Hong Kong. So let's bring in CNN's David McKenzie live from

Beijing.

And David, we know Beijing is watching what is happening here very closely. So how is the central government addressing the protest?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, at this stage, while you're hearing people shouting from the rooftops, as it were in Hong

Kong, there's barely a whisper here, at least out on the record here in Beijing from the Communist Party. They've made one statement that was on

Sunday saying that the Hong Kong government will take care of this and that it's their responsibility. And these are illegal protests.

There have been very little coming from the Chinese authorities here in Beijing. But as you say, they'll be watching this closely and it's

unclear to know exactly what they're thinking, but certainly there could be nervous times ahead, because China has said that they won't budge at all to

these protesters' demands. And the protesters say they will continue to occupy the CBC, the Central District of Hong Kong, an important financial

hub of China. So that's the impasse we face right now -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: And David just how much news, information, social media updates about the Hong Kong pro-democracy protest is actually reaching and

getting into Mainland China?

MCKENZIE: Very little, indeed. As you've already reported, Instagram, the social media site has been blocked in China in the last 12

hours or so. You've also seen roundly censored images, video and even state media articles themselves have been blacked out of their own site.

So there's two things going on here. One is I think that the Communist Party doesn't want people in Mainland China to see what's going

on, to see those dramatic images of clashes with police in Hong Kong, potentially because it could inspire activists on the Mainland to do

similar things here in the Mainland, which is really the chief concern of the Communist Party at any one time -- 7 million people in Hong Kong versus

1.3 something billion people in the rest of China. Their major headache would be the people here.

But it's also interesting that they have not blacked out CNN and other international broadcasters from their reporting, even the more dramatic

images. And they do quite frequently, as you know, Kristie, black our reporting here in Mainland China.

So it appears they're trying to black out the images in the Mainland, but engage in the debate, as it were, in the international community. And

just awhile ago, the minister of foreign affairs had yet again warned against international and foreign interference, their words, in what they

say is a domestic Chinese matter.

LU STOUT: And David, these protests here in Hong Kong, as they drag on and potentially swell in the number of protesters, I mean, this is a

true test for Beijing. So how much longer will China tolerate such open dissent here in this territory?

MCKENZIE: Well, as we've been reporting, this is one country, two systems. And this peculiar nature of the political setup in China is such

that it gives China and the leadership here, you know, a save facing -- a face-saving tactic. They effectively can let protests go on, because they

have in the past.

But if this drags on, if this affects the business community in Hong Kong to a large degree, if there's a sense that the protests will escalate

or become violent, that could change. Right now it appears that the Communist Party is happy to have the Hong Kong government to try and deal

with this, but you know we've known and we've seen protests by students in China in the past, particularly Tiananmen Square 25 years ago, that these

things can drag on for weeks and months and it depends on who has the upper hand even within the protest movement itself as to how this will all play

out.

With the students taking a leadership role just by getting out there and accelerating these protests in Hong Kong, it's taken this into a whole

different dimension that could be very risky indeed for the Communist Party form their perspective and could set up a clash at some point between these

two sides.

LU STOUT: David McKenzie with the view from Beijing, many thanks for your reporting.

Now Hong Kong's showdown against Beijing has not gone unnoticed by activists in Mainland China. And for more on that reaction, let's bring in

Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei.

And Ai Weiwei, thank you so much for joining us here on CNN. On your Twitter page today, you said (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE), "I am a Hong

Konger." Why do you say this? And why do you support the protests here in Hong Kong?

AI WEIWEI, CHINESE ARTIST: Yes. We are going to be carefully watching what's happening in Hong Kong. And what happens there is not only

concerns the future of Hong Kong, but also reflects on China's future.

We see society, which has a very long history of lawful and, you know, structure, which (inaudible) close to democratic performance. And so you -

- the young people there concerned about their own future and so this kind of very peaceful demonstration, which really have very strong impact on

what is happening in China today.

So, it's being very closely watched, that's why the authority have to shut down even Instagram just some hours ago.

LU STOUT: And Weiwei, as we talk right now, we're seeing live on the screen an image of you Skyping us, also live pictures from across the

harbor what's happening around the Admiral T (ph) central area of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Island. Scores of, many of them young of all ages,

protesters protesting peacefully of democracy here in Hong Kong.

Now let's go back to Ai Weiwei in Beijing. And Weiwei, do you think what's happening here, these protests and these calls for democracy in Hong

Kong, do you think this could spread to cities inside Mainland China?

WEIWEI: It's very hard to say from now, but if they -- it really depends on how this will develop.

I think for now, we can see the demonstration very peaceful and the people very rational and you know on the both side is very careful

(inaudible). But if it comes to some kind of violence, so then that would definitely really affect what the politics in China.

So, it's very fragile moment, I should say. So nobody can tell what this is going to lead us to.

LU STOUT: You describe this as a fragile moment. Riot police here, they have receded in Hong Kong. The protesters, their action remains

peaceful. All eyes, though, on Beijing and what Beijing will do next.

Now Ai Weiwei from what you have experienced in China, you have been detained, you have lived under house arrest, how do you think Beijing will

react to such open dissent to its rule?

WEIWEI: I don't think the authority in Beijing familiar or used to this condition, even what happened 25 years ago and that is a big tragedy.

So I don't think this time they would have that kind of action.

But of course they are -- they had never used to negotiate, or to even to just to have some kind of conversation. So I think they would first

leave everything to the Hong Kong authority to let them to play the acting role. And so it all depends on how this would develop into.

LU STOUT: Ai Weiwei, thank you so much for joining us here on CNN International and sharing your views with us. That was Ai Weiwei joining

us live, the dissident artist live via Skype from Beijing. He described what's happening here in Hong Kong as a, quote, fragile moment. Weiwei,

thank you very much indeed for that.

Now Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement has received global attention at the grass root level. In Sydney, Australia, supporters say that

hundreds of people there have signed a petition in support of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

At the Hong Kong overseas tradeoff as the building has been plastered with Post-Its, some calling for an end to violence, others calling for the

territory's leader to step down.

Meanwhile in Taiwan, anti-Mainland China demonstrators are expressing solidarity with Hong Kong. About 100 people gathered. As you can see

here, they're all holding signs that say support Hong Kong together as well as the words "civil disobedience."

Now back in March earlier this year, Taiwan students stormed and occupied parliament to protest a trade pact with China.

You're watching a special edition of News Stream. And right after the break, we get a rare view into the mind of ISIS. An active member and a

defector, they speak exclusively to CNN. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back to News Stream. Coming to you live from the Hong Kong harbor.

Now the city is bracing for another night of large protests. You're looking at live pictures there on your screen what's happening on Hong Kong

Island right now.

The pro-Democracy demonstrators, they are there en masse. They are defying demands to disperse. And they are there because they want true

universal suffrage. One person, one vote and the ability to pick their own candidates of who would lead the territory independent of Beijing.

Now late on Sunday, you remember those riveting images and video. Police, they cracked down with tear gas. Now the government has since

ordered riot police to withdraw.

Now to remind you where all of this is taking place here in Hong Kong. The protesters, they are sitting on several key intersections across the

territory. They are blocking roads on both sides of the harbor.

Now the main group is right here on the map. The road that they're sitting on is the main route between the eastern and western sides of Hong

Kong Island. Now it is also just outside Hong Kong government headquarters. It is also right next to the main base of the People's

Liberation Army in Hong Kong.

Now the PLA, they are very rarely seen outside their bases in Hong Kong. And the government says it has not requested their help in dealing

with the protests happening right next to their headquarters here.

Now it's also pretty close to the city's financial district. Now Hong Kong's stock exchange is just down the road, but trading there, it opened

and closed and went on as normal today. The Hang Seng index, though, it finished down almost 2 percent.

Now the U.S. and its allies have hit new ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq. Now forces carried out at least 12 airstrikes in the last 24 hours.

And you could see the ISIS targets in Syria that were hit there on the map.

Now some refineries, armored vehicles, and a small command center were destroyed.

In Iraq, and ISIS safe house near Baghdad, it was hit as well as well as several targets near Fallujah.

Meanwhile, ISIS fighters are closing in on the key Syrian city of Kobani. It is right on the border with Turkey. And despite several U.S.

airstrikes, ISIS launched a counteroffensive Kurdish forces on Sunday.

Now in a CNN exclusive, we hear from two ISIS insiders. Now the first, a man who has just defected from the militant group, and the second

an active fighter. And both give us this rare glimpse into the mindset of this extremist organization.

Now CNN's senior international correspondent Arwa Damon reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DAMON (voice-over): When coalition airstrikes blasted the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, Abu Omar saw a target of opportunity. He called

the only person he could trust.

ABU OMAR, ISIS DEFECTOR (Through Translator): He was a relative. He was always telling me to defect.

DAMON: Defect from ISIS. Abu Omar shaved his beard and crossed into Turkey, visibly anxious as we speak, now wanted by all sides. The

organization he refers to as the Islamic State he tells us relies heavily on foreign fighters.

ABU OMAR (Through Translator): The French, they have so much control, they're even more extreme than we are. They come from France, but it's as

if they've been a part of the Islamic State for years.

DAMON: And he says, ISIS was well-prepared for coalition airstrikes. Moving their fighters and equipment.

ABU OMAR (Through Translator): They almost entirely emptied out the headquarters. Some equipment they hid in civilian neighborhoods. Some they

hid underground.

DAMON (on camera): We're interviewing Abu Talha by Skype. He's an ISIS fighter in Raqqa. But he won't speak directly to a woman so that's why Arab

(ph) is asking the questions.

(Voice-over): Since the coalition airstrikes in Syria, he says, ISIS banned all communications from Raqqa. With permission from his emir, Abu

Talha traveled closer to the border with Iraq to be able to access the Internet for this interview.

ABU TALHA, ISIS FIGHTER (Through Translator): We've been ready for this for some time. We know that our bases are known because they're

tracking us with radars and satellites. So we had backup locations. They thought they knew everything. But thank God they don't know anything. And

God willing, we will defeat the infidels.

DAMON: He says he was with the fighters who overran Mosul and that they knew how easy it would be to push out the Iraqi Army and seize their

weapons and armor. Much of it American made.

ABU TALHA (Through Translator): This thing was all planned and prepared. There was nothing that was by chance. It was all organized.

DAMON: Abu Talha scoffed at the coalition strikes on the oil installations and other targets.

ABU TALHA (Through Translator): We, the Islamic State, we have revenue other than oil. We have other avenues and our finances are not going to

stop just because of oil losses. They hit us in some areas and we advance in others. If we are pushed back in Iraq, we advance in northern Syria.

These strikes cannot stop us, our support, or our fighters.

DAMON: For Abu Omar, the caliphate was a dream, one he still believes in, but not under ISIS, not like this.

ABU OMAR (Through Translator): I saw a 70-year-old sheik killed in front of me. The Islamic State can't continue like this. There are a lot of

youth who are joining, 14, 15 years old. Maybe my voice can make them think again.

DAMON: Arwa Damon, CNN, Gaziantev (ph), Turkey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now I want to return to our top story again, the protests happening here in Hong Kong.

As reported, these largescale scenes of civil disobedience are extremely rare for the city. But there's something else that makes them

rather unique.

Now this is the scene, we caught it on camera earlier this morning, you can see the protesters cleaning up, they're tidying up after that

chaotic night of confrontations with police.

Now the demonstrators here, they have remained overwhelmingly peaceful and supportive of each other. They demand democracy and push the

government to protect their freedoms. Now some say they are fighting to keep Hong Kong Hong Kong.

Scenes like this highlight the city's best side.

We'll have much more from Hong Kong throughout the night and throughout the week as these massive protests continue. And more News

Stream is still ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now all this week, CNN's On the Road series will bring you greater insight into the customs and culture of South Korea from their innovation

and technology to their sporting power in baseball, we explore how this country is rebranding itself. And today, Paula Newton shows us how South

Korea is becoming the new cool, converting its pop sensations into soft power.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's in the heart of Beijing where you'll find out just how persuasive South Korea's soft power

has become.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I would say I'm an avid Korean fanatic.

NEWTON: This Chinese fan says she's obsessed with Korean pop culture exports K-pop, and K-drama. Her fixation right now like millions of others

is the K-soap My Love from the Star.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Every day I basically watch Korean themed shows for at least a little while.

NEWTON: It's the K wave. And it's washed over Asia for the last few years, fans devouring all they can get of Korean entertainment exports.

To learn why, we travel to the countryside outside Seoul and into the warehouses where multi-million dollar K dramas are made.

OK, let's go take a look.

The head of drama at Korean broadcaster SVS tells me his new show, My Lovely Girl, about a media mogul has already been sold in China for more

than $200,000 an episode. And that's just for the online rate.

So, the Korean leading man, he's kind of a secret weapon for dramas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The women in Asia love them, since the Asian women used to be obedient because of tradition, but the

male characters now go beyond that and sacrifice for their women and satisfy their dreams and fantasies.

NEWTON: Wow, nice place.

K drama icon Rain (ph) helps explain the appeal.

RAIN, ACTOR/SINGER: I think Korean male character very lovely, sometimes very kind, sometimes very sexy.

NEWTON: It's the kind of charm that drafts legions of fans and has helped create a brand of Korean cool out of so many culture exports.

Korean pop star Psy and Gangnam Style pop anthem is now one of the most viewed videos of all time.

We met up with his producer at a launch party in Seoul.

YG admits even he's shocked by the popularity of Korean pop culture throughout Asia and beyond.

YANG HUNG-SUK, CHIEF PRODUCER YG ENTERTAINMENT (through translator): No one knows how many years this Korean wave will last and how much more

popular it can get, but it's getting more and more popular at such a fast pace.

NEWTON: Korean cool yields influence in Asia now through an uncanny mix of confidence and style and a production formula that can't be easily

explained or to the dismay of many Asians, easily duplicated outside South Korea.

Paula Newton, CNN, Paju (ph), South Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And that is News Stream, but the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.

END