<p>Amid raging pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, China today threw its weight behind the region's Chief Executive CY Leung and warned demonstrators of "unimaginable" consequences if the standoff continues.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The support for beleaguered Leung came from the ruling Communist Party of China mouthpiece People's Daily editorial as activists who are holding pro-democracy protests threatened to occupy government buildings if Leung does not resign.<br /><br />"Occupy Central harms Hong Kong and its people. If it's allowed to continue, the consequences would be unimaginable," the People's Daily warned in its front-page editorial, according to CNN.<br /><br />The daily praised Leung's handling of the situation so far in the former British colony.<br />The central government is full of confidence in Leung and is completely satisfied with his performance, it said.<br /><br />Beijing "will thus continue to strongly support Leung's leadership of Hong Kong's legal administration as well as the police's handling of illegal activities", the paper said.<br />"This is not only for protecting national security and interests, but also for the interests of Hong Kong," it said.<br /><br />People's Daily also carried on its website a comment piece from another newspaper which stated: "Hong Kong has for many years enjoyed peace and harmony. It now sees the emergence of this embarrassing chaos, and the root cause lies with a few people who are disrespecting the law."<br /><br />"Chaos denies Hong Kong residents their prosperity, goes against their wishes, and is not what all Chinese people wish to see or what we can tolerate," it said.<br /><br />It said that upholding rule of law is crucial to the democratic development of Hong Kong, and the Occupy movement is a "blatant violation of Hong Kong laws", is aimed at "putting the political demands of a few people above the law".<br /><br />Also, China has suspended visits by tour groups to Hong Kong as the city's democracy movement threatened to snowball into major crisis.<br /><br />The China National Tourism Administration told operators not to organise tour groups to the city.<br /><br />People who booked before yesterday would not be affected, the South China Morning Post reported.<br /><br />The suspension is a big blow to Hong Kong traders as thousands of Chinese would visit the region during the current week long holiday to celebrate the National Day yesterday.<br /><br />"It means that there will be no more mainland tours a week from now," said Hong Kong Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung.</p>
<p>Amid raging pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, China today threw its weight behind the region's Chief Executive CY Leung and warned demonstrators of "unimaginable" consequences if the standoff continues.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The support for beleaguered Leung came from the ruling Communist Party of China mouthpiece People's Daily editorial as activists who are holding pro-democracy protests threatened to occupy government buildings if Leung does not resign.<br /><br />"Occupy Central harms Hong Kong and its people. If it's allowed to continue, the consequences would be unimaginable," the People's Daily warned in its front-page editorial, according to CNN.<br /><br />The daily praised Leung's handling of the situation so far in the former British colony.<br />The central government is full of confidence in Leung and is completely satisfied with his performance, it said.<br /><br />Beijing "will thus continue to strongly support Leung's leadership of Hong Kong's legal administration as well as the police's handling of illegal activities", the paper said.<br />"This is not only for protecting national security and interests, but also for the interests of Hong Kong," it said.<br /><br />People's Daily also carried on its website a comment piece from another newspaper which stated: "Hong Kong has for many years enjoyed peace and harmony. It now sees the emergence of this embarrassing chaos, and the root cause lies with a few people who are disrespecting the law."<br /><br />"Chaos denies Hong Kong residents their prosperity, goes against their wishes, and is not what all Chinese people wish to see or what we can tolerate," it said.<br /><br />It said that upholding rule of law is crucial to the democratic development of Hong Kong, and the Occupy movement is a "blatant violation of Hong Kong laws", is aimed at "putting the political demands of a few people above the law".<br /><br />Also, China has suspended visits by tour groups to Hong Kong as the city's democracy movement threatened to snowball into major crisis.<br /><br />The China National Tourism Administration told operators not to organise tour groups to the city.<br /><br />People who booked before yesterday would not be affected, the South China Morning Post reported.<br /><br />The suspension is a big blow to Hong Kong traders as thousands of Chinese would visit the region during the current week long holiday to celebrate the National Day yesterday.<br /><br />"It means that there will be no more mainland tours a week from now," said Hong Kong Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yao-chung.</p>