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NEWS STREAM

Occupy Central Movement Gives Hong Kong Chief Executive Ultimatum; South Korea's Obsession With Baseball Dominance; First Ebola Patient Diagnosed In U.S. State of Texas

Aired October 01, 2014 - 08:00   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 on a big day for the protests all across this city.

It's China's National Day, but tens of thousands of people are packing the streets of Hong Kong to demand more freedom from Beijing.

Student leaders set a 24 hour deadline for Hong Kong's chief executive to step down.

And we'll get the view from China where a former government official calls the protest dangerous.

It's 8:00 p.m. in Hong Kong on China's National Day. And right now, the harbor behind me, it should be filled with fireworks, but celebrations

have been canceled because of unprecedented protests.

It is the fourth night of pro-democracy demonstrations here and the crowds are growing. They want Beijing to stay out of Hong Kong's election

in 2017. And student protest leaders are calling on Hong Kong's chief executive to step down in 24 hours or they will occupy government offices.

But officials in both Hong Kong and Beijing, they refuse to budge.

Let's head to the center of the action now. And Andrew Stevens is there. He joins us now live. And Andrew, on this National Day the stakes

are rising in the standoff between the government and the student protesters.

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's quite a dramatic development, the call by Occupy leaders to actually ask for the

resignation within 24 hours of CY Leung, otherwise they will occupy government buildings, Kristie, because that brings into the whole mix once

again the possibility of a strong police reaction to that.

And while I'm explaining that, let's just take you to the scene below me here. We've come up on this overpass just to give you an idea of just

how many people are here. Tens of thousands of people have been coming in to this -- basically what is a 10 lane highway all day joining forces with

student protesters who have been here now into their fourth day.

It's an incredible scene down here, Kristie. Hong Kongers have turned this into a very, very polite and self-policed event. And everybody seems

to be doing the right thing as far as keeping the place tidy, keeping it lawful, but at the same time making sure that they get their demands met.

They're not backing down in any way.

And it was interesting, we heard a little earlier that the leader of Hong Kong CY Leung told local radio that he would be prepared to meet

officials from the protesters. And then when he heard news that this deadline, he said the chances of that if Occupy goes through with this

occupying buildings, would be minute of them actually getting a meeting with the Hong Kong leaders.

So it sounds at this stage like there is still a small door open for negotiations, but that could be rapidly closing within the next 24 hours,

Kristie.

LU STOUT: Andrew, the protest movement itself, it seems to be growing in number behind you. Is it attracting more people beyond the core student

and Occupy groups?

STEVENS: Yes, it seems to be. You're getting much more broader coalition now of people, if you like. This is a public holiday as we know,

China National Day. And it's given the first chance for people who do have jobs to come down and show their support. There's quite a few down coming

just to have a look at it as well, because it is quite an extraordinary sight down here.

But there's no doubt that there is a cross-section of the community now behind the students, behind the activists who have been planning this

Occupy Central movement for months now and very plainly telling Beijing what they plan to do, hoping to force Beijing into changing their mind

about the democracy process. That didn't work, so they're basically carrying through now with their threats.

But there is -- as I say, there is more -- average Hong Kongers coming out to lend their support.

There are people who don't support the way that this is going about. They want democracy, but they don't think taking to the streets is the

right way to do it. But certainly talking to many people down here, people with advertising executives -- it's a very sort of middle class crowd with

the students, you talk to these people and they've come down to lend their support, Kristie.

LU STOUT: So, quite a cross-section of Hong Kong society there behind you.

And Andrew, on this day, China's National Day, how did Chinese authorities manage to mark this day, given all these mass protests

underway?

STEVENS: Well, as you and I both know, the fireworks display, which is scheduled for today is the big event. And that was canceled

unsurprisingly.

So what has happened is a pretty low key ceremony this morning, a raising of the Hong Kong flag, a raising of the China flag. There was a

speech by CY Leung, the Hong Kong leader to a selected -- a very selected guest list. And even there were students from another movement who got

down there, got quite close to where the ceremony was taking place and stood, turned their backs to the ceremony and crossed their hands in a sign

of no.

So, they couldn't escape the fact that there are people all over this city, not just here, two or three other key areas, commercial areas of the

city, who are also expressing their solidarity for the protests. So all in all it's been a miserable National Day for China here.

And enormously embarrassing for Beijing to have on this special day hundreds of thousands perhaps of Chinese citizens clearly demonstrating

against their own, their Chinese specific democratic law -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Andrew Stevens, joining us live at the main protest site there in Admiralty. Thank you very much indeed for that.

Now China has expressed confidence in CY Leung to handle the protests and has dismissed the depth of the demonstrations are illegal, a signal it

will not negotiate.

Now CNN's Jaime Florcruz recently caught up with China's former vice minister of Hong Kong affairs to get more on Beijing's view.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHEN ZUO'ER, FRM. VICE MINISTER OF HONG KONG AFFAIRS (through translator): I think the Occupy Central movement is the Hong Kong version

of street politics and color revolutions we've seen in other countries. It's very dangerous. It's an obviously illegal movement. It has caused

great harm to Hong Kong in the past few days.

Democracy and the rule of law are the pillars of economic prosperity and surface stability in Hong Kong. Occupy Central has attacked both

pillars.

JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: What is your message to the protesters.

ZUO'ER (through translator): The passion of Hong Kong's people is commendable. They care about current affairs and politics, care about the

future of Hong Kong in China, but they tend to be gullible and excitable as their class boycott and peaceful sit-in became Occupy Central. Some

adults, I mean those with beards and raincoats, suddenly show up in the front of the youth to tell them what to do, what not to do. So what should

be done, what should be their goals.

We are all shocked.

FLORCRUZ: Will China consider sending the People's Liberation Army soldiers if this protest movement continue for a longer time?

ZUO'ER (through translator): The past few days, the central government has stated many times we believe that the Hong Kong as they are

government has the ability to handle well the illegal acts of the Occupation Central. We fully believe so.

FLORCRUZ: Some say there is a similarity between the ongoing protest in Hong Kong and Tiananmen in 1989. Do you agree?

ZUO'ER (through translator): You can't compare the two.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now for more on the latest view from Mainland China, let's bring in our David McKenzie. He joins us live from the Chinese capital.

And David, the question everyone is asking right now is how much longer will Beijing tolerate these protests?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a good question. And, Kristie, the number of people I've spoken to have said they

are going to engage in a waiting game. But really it's reading the tea leaves at this point, because we do know that they've allowed peaceful

protests to continue in Hong Kong for several days, even when they're in open defiance of the government therein ultimately in open defiance with

the government here in Beijing, because few people think this is anything other than a direct confrontation between the protesters and the Communist

Party in Mainland China.

On the Mainland, though, Kristie, there's been disturbing accounts from Amnesty International and others that say the scores of people have

been rounded up and detained. We have shown some sort of sympathy to these Hong Kong protests her on the Mainland including this man who had posted

this picture of him with a shaved head and a sign saying I support the Hong Kong Protest. He was detained in a central part of the country.

So, certainly here on the Mainland they are taking things as seriously as they usually do with dissent. What they'll do in Hong Kong is anyone's

guess ? Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yeah, very alarming to hear that these Chinese activists inside Mainland China, those who have expressed support for what's

happening here in Hong Kong they're under threat.

Now as these protests drag on, David, China's censors they are working overtime. What have you managed to see Mainland China?

MCKENZIE: Well, what we see is very little, of course, because as you say the censors are working to black out our own signal, other

international broadcasters. It's interesting, though, they're pretty sophisticated, because our signal blacks out when there are voices that are

critical or just when we show the protest movement, but it comes back on when there are voices pro-government.

So certainly they're trying to very fine tune manage the message.

But it's very difficult, of course, in the age of the internet. People have gotten creative, using the sign of an umbrella because of the

so-called umbrella revolution and sending photographs in and it's going to be many sleepless nights right during a holiday period here in China for

the legions of censors that try to throw up the great firewall on the internet.

LU STOUT: CNN's David McKenzie joining us live from the Chinese capital. Thank you, David.

You're watching News Stream, still to come on the program, China marks a national holiday but not everyone is celebrating. Tens of thousands are

standing strong against Beijing on the streets of Hong Kong.

Also ahead for the first time ever a patient is diagnosed with the Ebola virus inside the United States. And just ahead, we take a look at

what this might mean for the spread of this deadly disease.

And later in the program, a new discovery raising concern in South Korea. One former general says North Korean tunnels may go deeper into

South Korea than anyone ever thought. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Now crowds are swelling on the streets of Hong Kong as throngs of pro-democracy protesters band together for another day and

during another night.

Now student leaders are demanding that Hong Kong's leader is chief executive CY Leung to step down by Thursday or they will escalate their

movement and occupy government buildings.

Now today marks the 65th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. And normally there would be an elaborate fireworks display right

behind me over that harbor, but Hong Kong canceled it due to these demonstrations.

Now for more, Ying Chan joins me now live from our Hong Kong studio. She is the director of the journalism and media studies center at the

University of Hong Kong. She joins us live. Ying, good to see you.

So much history happening right now. We know that students, they are demanding CY Leung to step down by Thursday or they will escalate the

operation. Do you believe that we have reached a dangerous new level in this standoff?

Ying, this is Kristie at the harborfront position. Can you hear me?

OK. All right, we can't, OK. Pardon me, I didn't -- it sounds like we're having some technical issues there. We'll try to reconnect with Ying

a little bit later in the program. Now we will have much more on Hong Kong's pro-democracy demonstrations throughout the hour.

But now, let's turn to our other top story that we're closely monitoring. We mentioned it before the break. The Ebola virus and the

outbreak, the worst in history. It has killed more than 3,000 people in West Africa. It sickened at least twice that number.

Now the first case of the deadly virus, this is a very grim milestone, the very first case of it has been diagnosed in the United States.

This is what happened. A man in Texas who recently traveled from Liberia is being treated in isolation. And health authorities are trying

to trace his contacts.

Now CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This morning, the door-to-door investigation begins. Health officials, including

a crew from the Centers for Disease Control, now in Dallas, in search of anyone who may have come in contact with the first patient diagnosed with

Ebola in the United States.

DR. EDWARD GOODMAN, TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: The patient admitted to this hospital has tested positive for Ebola virus. The cause of

Ebola virus disease.

GUPTA: According to the CDC, the unidentified patient traveled from Liberia on September 19th, landing in the United States the following day,

September 20th. Doctors say he did not feel sick until the 24th.

DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN, CDC DIRECTOR: The patient was visiting family members and staying with family members who live in this country.

GUPTA: Ebola is a virus that can affect multiple organ systems and can sometimes cause internal bleeding, those symptoms don't appear for two to

21 days after infection. Signs do include sudden fever, weakness, muscle pain, headaches and a sore throat. The disease is also spread by direct

contact via bodily fluids, only after symptoms begin.

GOODMAN: This is not transmitted by the air. There's no risk to a person in this hospital who is walking or is a patient. There's simply no

reason to be fearful of that.

GUPTA: Paramedics who transported the patient now quarantined. The ambulance used, decontaminated. It's cordoned off. There's some concern

because Ambulance 37 was used for two days after transporting the patient. Though health officials saying -- it's OK.

The city spokeswoman telling CNN the Dallas County Health Department has confirmed that paramedics did follow proper guidelines to avoid

contaminating additional patients.

So far, none of the crew members are exhibiting signs of the disease, this as the CDC says fellow passengers on that same flight from Liberia are

likely not at risk. Still, doctors warn to remain vigilant.

FRIEDEN: I have no doubt that we'll stop this in its tracks in the U.S. But I also have no doubt that as long as the outbreak continues in

Africa, we need to be on our guard.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now that was CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta reporting.

You're watching News Stream. Still to come in the hour, they date back decades, but now there are new concerns that North Korean tunnels may

go deeper into the south than anyone thought possible. Details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now we are continuing to monitor these massive protests on the streets here in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy demonstrators, they've been occupying

various parts of the city for four days and four nights now. Now remember, this street that you're looking at live on your screen, that on Hong Kong

Island, that is one of the main highways in Hong Kong. And these protesters, what they want is this, they want Beijing to back out of Hong

Kong's internal affairs so they can have free and fair elections in 2017.

Now today is a significant day. It marks the 65th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. And normally, there would be an elaborate

fireworks display right behind me, but Hong Kong canceled it due to the demonstrations.

Now for more on this political crisis, let's bring up Ying Chan. She joins me now from our Hong Kong studio. And Ying is the director of the

journalism and media studies center at the University of Hong Kong. And Ying, thank you for joining us.

Again, a top news line right now is that students have issued this ultimatum, they want the chief executive of Hong Kong to step down by

Thursday or they are going to escalate the operation. What's your thinking about where we are now in this standoff?

YING CHAN, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG: Well, I think the ball is now in Beijing's court. Regardless of the students' ultimatum, Beijing should

understand that the chief executive CY Leung has to go. He needs to step down even -- only for mismanaging the situation in the past week. He

condones the tear gassing of peaceful protesters and allowed the protest -- the demonstration to escalate. He has to go. He is damaged goods for

Beijing.

(CROSSTALK)

LU STOUT: The government, though, won't compromise -- the government won't back down. So, I mean, really what's their strategy here when you

look at them from the outside in? Do they plan to just wait it out?

CHAN: Well, waiting out is not a strategy, because as the -- you have more people in the street. They're not going away. The government is in

effect not governing the city. It has lost touch. And Beijing needs to make the decision. It's not for CY Leung to decide. He's putting up a

good front.

LU STOUT: The protesters, they're not going away. And something, and you pointed this out, something extraordinary has happened. This protest

is decentralized. There is no single top-down directive, yet this protest movement is completely organized. How is that?

CHAN: I mean, absolutely. That's why Beijing needs to understand the dynamics of the situation. There's no central organization. People are

coming out spontaneously through networking and social media, mobilizing social media, you have numerous groups who are organizing among themselves

communicating, getting supplies, mobilizing support. And that's the dynamic of the situation.

And they're getting support from...

LU STOUT: I know. And you work at the media center -- I know that you work in the media center at Hong Kong University. You've been

analyzing this point a lot. The social media angle. Can you tell us more about the social media platforms that they are using to mobilize and to

organize themselves at the protest movement?

CHAN: Well, they're using WhatsApp, they're using Facebook, they're using now Instagram and also WeChat, a very, very popular social media and

using all kinds. And Facebook has also been very powerful in organizing people. And that's what the adults, they need to understand.

LU STOUT: That's right. And as you point out, you feel that there is this disconnect between the government and this decentralized very tech

savvy protest movement. Ying Chan, we'll have to leave it at that, but thank you very much for joining us here on News Stream.

Now, some National Day celebrations, they've gone ahead despite these massive demonstrations.

The official flag raising here in Hong Kong, it went on as scheduled, and you can see chief executive CY Leung right there on your screen, he was

singing along to the Chinese national anthem. Local media report that some dignitaries had to arrive by ferry because of roads closed by the protests.

And a group of student protesters also managed to attend. Led by Joshua Wong, they turned their backs on the flag and they stood in silence.

Now later, Leung posted a National Day reception and say Hong Kong should accept Beijing's plan for the 2017 election. But the sight of him

raising a glass of champagne with Chinese officials is unlikely to win him any fans in Hong Kong.

Now one prominent democrat shouted for him to resign. And other local lawmakers staged a protest, opening a yellow umbrella in solidarity with

the pro-democracy demonstration.

Now a retired South Korean general has new warnings about North Korean tunnels dug deep into his country.

Now the two nations, still technically at war, are divided by that narrow demilitarized zone. As Paula Hancocks reports the tunnels, they

date back decades, but a new discovery is raising fresh concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Seen as a tourist attraction rather than a military threat these days, an infiltration tunnel

dug from North Korea to South Korea passing under the most heavily fortified border on Earth. Three tunnels were found in the 1970s, one in

1990, nothing since. But the defense ministry admits there may be 20 in all.

Major General Han Song-choo (ph) believes he's discovered a new one under a Seoul apartment block.

A former two star general, now a tunnel hunter, he says residents complained of underground vibrations back in March. (inaudible) then

detected three tunnels up to 12 meters under the basement. His team drilled down to lower a camera. But before they could, Han (ph) says their

recorder picked up two underground explosions. Their drills holes were then blocks. The work, he is certain, of North Korean soldiers protecting

the tunnel.

MAJ. GEN. HAHN SUNG-CHU (RET.), SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY: They work hard to make a stone-pipe to counter coming down the drilling tube.

HANCOCKS: This North Korean defector was a senior intelligence official within the military. He hides his identity as he still has family

in the north.

He says Pyongyang's tunnel digging lasted decades before scaling down in the late 90s. But he believes existing tunnels would still be

protected.

"If war breaks out," he says, "infantry units will be sent into the tunnels wearing South Korean and U.S. military uniforms, the targets are

U.S. forces in Korea and tacking hostages at the U.S. embassy. Then the Blue House and the communications and gas supply system will be hit.

South Korea's defense ministry says a tunnel would not reach Seoul, 40 kilometers, or 25 miles from the border. It says there's a 10 kilometer,

or six mile limit because of the Imjin River.

"From North Korea to Seoul is a considerable distances, says the spokesman. And the soil structure contains a lot of granite. So it's not

an easy dig, like it was digging tunnels in Vietnam, for example.

North Korea has said in the past the tunnels are not for invasion, but part of their mining industry.

With Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions and long range ballistic missiles, the focus is no longer on these tunnels. The military still officially

looks for them, but the budget is small leaving tunnel hunters frustrated, believing that their concerns are simply not being taken seriously.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And still to come on the program, we have more on the protest here in Hong Kong. It is getting

bigger by the minute. What that could mean for the city and from Beijing? We'll hear from a media mogul.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

Now student protest leaders in Hong Kong say that they will escalate the demonstrations if the city's chief executive CY Leung does not stand

down in the next 24 hours. They say that their next step would be to occupy government buildings.

Now these pro-democracy demonstrations have been filling the streets of Hong Kong for days.

Now in Ukraine's war-torn east, regional authorities say this public transit bus was hit by shelling in Donetsk today. They say six people were

killed. A school was also shelled. Reports say at least four people there were killed, children age six to 17, all attended that school.

Now doctors at this hospital in Dallas, Texas are treating the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. Now he recently arrived

from Liberia. Health workers are trying to find anyone he may have come in contact with before he was isolated.

Now Microsoft has unveiled the latest version of its flagship operating system. Now Windows 10, the new version is designed to run on

everything from PCs, tablets, phones, even the Xbox. And in case you're wondering, there will be no Windows 9. Microsoft is skipping straight from

8 to 10.

Now, let's go back to our main story. Now here in Hong Kong, crowds of protesters are springing up across the city center, right across the

harbor here and even here in Kowloon. They're there in the area of Admiralty (ph) in Central Hong Kong Island. Thousands of people there have

filled the area and the sit-in has swelled considerably since Sunday. That was when the rally first began.

Now, just a reminder, that area you're looking at on the map, that is the heart of Hong Kong. It's where the government headquarters is located.

The Hong Kong stock exchange as well.

Now just a 10 minute ride to the east, you have the area of Causeway Bay. And protesters have cordoned off a major road there.

Now Causeway Bay is typically a vibrant shopping district.

And right across the harbor where I'm reporting from right now, Demonstrators have blockaded another busy retail center. Now the area of

Mong Kok is known for its crowded allies and outdoor markets.

And finally, protesters have swarmed Canton Road in the area of Tsim Sha Tsui very close to where I'm standing right now.

Now here in Hong Kong, the Apple Daily is a popular tabloid newspaper. I'm holding a copy right now with a pro-democracy point of view. Now some

of its spectacular drone video of the protests have had thousands of views on YouTube.

Now Apple Daily is owned by Next Media. It is the company that also creates popular current event cartoons. It's all part of a media empire

owned by Jimmy Lai. As you might expect, he is a strong supporter of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. And he has been the target of legal,

personal and even physical attacks.

Now Next Media chairman Jimmy Lai, he joins me now live here in Tsim Sha Tsui, thank you for joining us here. I have a copy of today's Apple

Daily. And it translated into English it says stand up, don't be a slave. But it's a play on words to the Chinese national anthem. What are you

trying to say with this headline?

JIMMY LAI, NEXT MEDIA CHAIRMAN: Well, just saying in (inaudible) we don't want to be a slave. You know, we want to have the freedom. We want

to have the democracy that we are entitled to and that's what we are fighting for.

LU STOUT: Now with Apple Daily, you've been covering the story from all angles, even from up high in the sky with your aerial drone cameras. I

don't know if they're legit or legal or not, if you have a proper license for that?

LAI: I think it is.

LU STOUT: You think it is. But the footage is stunning. And what has it revealed about the scale of the protests?

LAI: Well, its so unexpected. You know, because nobody expects all the students will just come out, you know, like now, right now in the

Admiralty, I guarantee there will be 80,000. Of the 80,000 people, maybe 95 percent are students. They are 20, 18, 20, 22, you know really young

students.

LU STOUT: Now, Jimmy, I have to say you here in Hong Kong are a rare breed of Hong Kong tycoon. You have been for a long time an open critic of

Beijing. You are a very pro-democracy. How are you feeling right now about this protest movement and where it could head next?

LAI: I'm very excited. I'm very touched by these young people. You know, I really see the hope of Hong Kong, because if the government resists

to give us the democracy, they have to be prepared to fight with these kids for 30 years, because they are still so young, you know. And what really

moved me a lot is all those kids are supposedly from foreign family, you know, supposedly spoiled kids. And these are the spoiled kids, they're

full of spirit to fight for justice.

You know, this is something that, you know, nobody expects, you know. Everybody wish to have spoiled kids like this. This is wonderful, you

know. It makes Hong Kong such a wonderful city.

LU STOUT: You call this a very exciting time for Hong Kong. And yet the business establishment here has been pretty silent, you know, about the

protesters or even the use of tear gas. There are probably people that you've done business with, your close friends, our cohorts. Behind the

scenes, are they quietly supporting the protest movement? I mean, what's the feeling among the business establishment?

LAI: I'm sure the business establishment is very apprehensive about this. You know, they don't like any disturbance to the flow of making

money. And to a lot of people, this city is so poor that we are only left with money, you know, we can't have a conscious, you know, we can't have a

spirit for justice.

You know, I found it very, you know, very funny those guys maybe they make so much money they've become numb. Maybe I'm not a tycoon, I'm just a

business ? I'm just a newspaper man.

LU STOUT: You own a good newspaper and then some.

LAI: Yeah, just newspaper guy.

LU STOUT: Yeah.

What's your feeling about the situation in Taiwan? The Apple Daily is not just here in Hong Kong, it's in Taiwan as well. How is Taiwan viewing

it?

LAI: Well, Taiwan we also have all the movements and (inaudible) movements recently and that was a very good thing that we'd done. So, yes,

we are very popular in both places, just because we have a very consistent stand in the fight for justice.

LU STOUT: Are there rallies in Taiwan in support of what's happening here?

LAI: Yes, there are. There are. Big one, too.

LU STOUT: And why?

LAI: Why? Because the implication of Hong Kong being persecuted is just -- they feel that that will be subsequently they will have the same

persecution, you know, because they D the Taiwanese feel that they're more being Taiwanese than Chinese. And they feel that they, you know, they're

being pressured to become Chinese. And they're resisting it.

LU STOUT: Now over the years, because of your views that are for democracy and democratic development here in Hong Kong and critical of

Beijing, you have been legally attacked, you have been personally attacked, you've even been physically attacked. Have you received any direct or

indirect contact from Chinese authorities since the beginning of this protest and you've been active in this protest from day one?

LAI: No, I haven't gotten direct approach by them, you know, but I indirectly I got the -- ICC, you know, persecute me, you know, search my

house.

LU STOUT: That's the anti-corruption body here in Hong Kong. But that happened before these protests began.

LAI: That happens before the protest begin to -- but I don't think that's -- that attack is aimed at me, it's more aimed at people outside me

to intimidate them, because I know I haven't done anything wrong, because they allege -- the (inaudible) of me is that my donations to the democrats

is corruption to bribe them to support democracy and freedom. And you know democracy and freedom is corrupted, you've got to bribe it. People

(inaudible). This is a very funny -- you know, accusation.

LU STOUT: Now, let's go back to the protests that were really student driven, the protests that are underway. This evening that we learned that

the students have issued this ultimatum. They said that if CY Leung does not step down in the next 24 hours, that the Occupy movement, the students

they will occupy government buildings. What do you make of that and do you think we're escalating to a more dangerous level here?

LAI: I don't know what they're thinking, really, you know, because maybe, you know, so many people get involved with the Occupy Central now

that they feel the urgency to push the issue, because, you know, the case had to go back to school, you know, they kind of always, you know, keep on

protesting and maybe the pressure to finish this, to get something done has pressure to, you know, them to take this move.

Whether this is too hasty, it would not -- I have no comment about that.

LU STOUT: A final quick question for you, what's going to be the end game here. Are you -- you said they are excited about what's happening

here in Hong Kong. Are you optimistic that there will be a positive outcome and a peaceful resolution, or are you fearful about what could come

next?

LAI: Well, if we don't try, if we don't have this protest, we don't have these kids, we have no hope if we don't try. At least now we have

hope. That may be a long, hard fight. Maybe we have to fight it for a long time. I'm not so optimistic that we will get it from the dictator in

China, you know, because we don't know how this guy's think.

But we have to keep trying, at least that the kids are trying very hard. And I know that the people in Hong Kong are supporting the kids.

So, you know, this makes me very optimistic it's not about the political reform, at least it's about the city of the future about those people here.

LU STOUT: All right, Jimmy, we'll leave it at that. Jimmy Lai, media mogul joining me here in Tsim Sha Tsui. Thank you very much for that and

for your accessibility.

So, why does Beijing want to keep such tight control of Hong Kong's politics? Now we put that question earlier to Regina Yip. Now she's a

member of Hong Kong's executive council, a leader of the pro-Beijing New People's Party.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REGINA YIP, NEW PEOPLE'S PARTY: We are part of China. We are not an independent political entity. You know, China cannot afford to have

someone elect as chief executive who would go to Washington or London for help or leak our state secret to them. You know, the simple answer is

because we are part of China, you know, that has always been the case.

Britain could not afford to give us independence because precisely of that historical, geographical and demographic and economic reality.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Regina Yip there.

Now Hong Kong is a part of China, but Hong Kong is also semi- autonomous from China. Under the one country, two systems policy life in Hong Kong is different to life in Mainland China. There is a different

currency, a border between the city and the mainland, and crucially the right to protest, a right that Hong Kong people have been exercising in

force this week.

Now, the latest in the war on ISIS. Now Kurdish fighters say that three airstrikes struck near the town of Kobani, Syria earlier today. ISIS

militants have been advancing on the northern town on the border with Turkey. And this comes after the biggest day yet for U.S.-led coalition

airstrikes against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. And for the first time, British war planes took part in the offensive over Iraq.

Australian aircraft are also flying over Iraq now in support of the mission. Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Australia has not made a final

decision on whether to actually drop bombs.

Meanwhile, Turkey's parliament is debating whether to send its ground troops into Iraq and Syria to fight the militant group.

You're watching News Stream, and still to come, an ultimatum for Hong Kong's chief executive could mean a possible escalation of the protests,

more on Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All this week, CNN's on the road series will bring you greater insight into the customs and culture of South Korea, their

innovation and technology to their sporting power in baseball. We explore how this country is rebranding itself.

Paula Newton reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Dodgers Stadium, can't touch this. Luk Dong Stadium (ph), Seoul,

and it's just a regular season game.

In South Korea, it's not that they take their baseball seriously, they take it anyway they can get it. And lately, they're getting winners,

defending their Asian Games gold on home turf.

South Korean ball can at times suffer a crisis of confidence no matter how good the quality on the field. Even in victory, the Asian Games

champions face criticism for being professional ballplayers when most of their opponents were amateurs.

It's a stark change from 2008 when Olympic Gold in Beijing united the country. The ballplayers were treated like heroes and South Korea built a

coveted reputation as a baseball nation.

It was the legacy of 2008 that inspired South Korea's new breed of baseball phenoms like Hyo Jun-park. He's now signed with the New York

Yankees for more than a $1 million. A shortstop like famed Yankee Derek Jeter, Park will begin in the minors with the Yankees farm team. He's keen

to prove himself just as South Korean baseball has.

PARK HYO JUN, FUTURE BASEBALL PLAYER (through translator): Korean baseball has improved a lot. I think professional baseball teams in Korea

are good enough to compete in a world level. And I hope Korean baseball will continue to improve.

NEWTON: From the future of Korean ball to the past, this former national coach says recent victories will help South Korea prove something

to itself, that its players are good enough for the big leagues, and more and more those big leagues are in South Korea.

KIM IN-SIK, FRM. SOUTH KOREAN BASEBALL COACH (through translator): This will be a good opportunity for the whole country to come together,

because everyone goes crazy over baseball, especially through kid's baseball.

LU STOUT: And how about those kids? A team of South Korean teenagers took the Little League World Series this summer, defeating Chicago on an

American field, taking the title for the first time in nearly 30 years.

We were in Seoul as the champions were cheered back home. They were free of critics. They are vested with the country's purest hopes for

baseball greatness.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I never thought we would win, but we reached our goal.

NEWTON: It isn't lost on any of these young men just exactly how important their baseball win was. Being a baseball powerhouse is an

obsession here. And this country is now a lot closer to realizing its dream.

Paula Newton, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And we'll have much more News Stream after this short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Now today is China's National Day, but it also marks a significant landmark for a groundbreaking form of transport, because 50

years ago today Japan began regular service of the world's first bullet train.

The Shinkansen was built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics connecting the capital with Osaka. It made Japan a smaller place. And it was a symbol of

the country's revival after World War II.

Now today the Shinkansen is as much of a Japanese icon as Mount Fuji. They're also famous for their punctuality. The train's operator says the

average delay on the Shinkansen connecting Tokyo to Osaka is only 36 seconds.

Now time now for your global weather forecast. And let's get the forecast here in Hong Kong with Mari Ramos. She joins us from the world

weather center -- Mari.

MARI RAMOS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kristie, hello. Much different day today compared to yesterday with all of the rain that

you had there across Hong Kong. We saw those pictures with the just huge downpours coming in across the central business district with all the

protesters there outside.

So, thousands of people of course getting caught in the rain.

What you're looking at over here is just some scattered rainshowers in and around the Hong Kong area, but nothing like yesterday. The skies

actually remain clear above Hong Kong right now. Just a little bit of cloud cover.

As we head through the next couple of days the trend is for drier conditions. The chance for rain goes down somewhat. But we can't rule out

the possibility of a strong thunderstorm just pretty much anywhere across that region, because it is that time of year afterall.

So, I high of 32 over the next day or so. By Saturday, we being to see a little more persistent rainfall coming in, maybe a little bit of

light rain and more clouds than sun, but pop up thunderstorms quite possible as we head through the day on Thursday and also on Friday.

So, there's East Asia right there. Notice that in the big satellite picture, it looks fairly clear.

But of course, look at that. We have to talk about this new storm right over here that continues to strengthen in the Pacific.

It is moving generally to the west-northwest. And I'm going to tell you what impact it may have in places here across East Asia in just a

moment.

But I do want to talk a little bit more about Japan, in particular. Mount Ontake today, the search resumed on the mountain, on Wednesday. They

had a little bit of better weather. They were able to get up there and retrieve 12 more of the missing people in that -- after that Saturday's

eruption.

The eruption is still a possibility. They're still at a level three in this region.

Now we had one cold front that came through. Drier weather today. But here comes the next weather system. And this one will be bringing you

some rain showers, more widespread than what we had in the last day or so, including the area near Mount Ontake, even though I think the heaviest rain

will be in the northern portion of Hokkaido this time around, and even back over here toward western Japan.

We still have the typhoon, though, to talk about. Typhoon Phanfone. And this system may actually have an impact on Japan more significantly

than anything we've had in the last months even.

Very heavy rain could affect this area in the next few days. We're talking four or five days. So by the weekend, definitely could be a

weathermaker here.

Notice the forecast track has it moving to the west-northwest. And then eventually maybe making that curve, that sharp curve toward the east.

When that happens, when it actually begins to turn, Kristie, will determine if the storm could have an impact in Japan or on Japan, I should

say, or maybe hopefully moving a little farther to the east. Still too early to tell, but definitely something we have to monitor.

Back to you.

LU STOUT: Mari Ramos, there, thank you.

Now today marks the 65th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. But celebrations are muted despite it being a public holiday here.

Now Hong Kong canceled its traditional fireworks display because of the ongoing pro-democracy protest.

Now the crowds, they seem to occupy the streets of the city's busy shopping and financial districts. Now the main group of protesters are on

Hong Kong Island, but you're looking at live pictures from another group in Tsim Sha Tsui, this is a major shopping district on the other side of the

harbor where I'm currently reporting from.

Now I spent some time down at the main protest site across the harbor there in Admiralty. And what struck me was just how organized it is. The

protesters, they are cleaning up after themselves. I mean, when we were there last night we saw crews walking through the crowd calling for plastic

bottles to recycle.

Now most of those bottles were given out for free. There are plenty of stations, like this, that are all set up to give people water.

Now the crowd extremely friendly, people happily handed us drinks and other supplies. And whenever a delivery van or ambulance need to use the

road, the mass of people instantly parted. And they applauded the vehicles as they passed.

Now in the last hour, I spoke to artist Casey Wong about the symbols of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protest from the umbrellas to the yellow

ribbons. And we also spoke about what's motivating people to come out en masse. He says he sees a culture war with big stakes.

You can listen to that conversation at CNN.com/NewsStream.

And that is News Stream. But the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.

END