University Lowers Hong Kong's GDP Forecast, Citing Protests as Factor

(Beijing) – The University of Hong Kong has cited student protests as one of the reasons economic growth will fall in the city by 1.2 percentage points this year.

The student-led protests called Occupy Central with Peace and Love started on September 28, and have seen demonstrators block streets and clash with police, who have used tear gas once. The students want China's central government to allow for a wider range of candidates to run in an election for leader of Hong Kong in 2017.