The Beijing-appointed leader of Hong Kong, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, refused protestors' demands that he step down before midnight on Thursday.
Thousands of protesters gathered on the city's streets, listening intently as Leung spoke to the nation and, while emotions ran high following the announcement, peace prevailed.
Leung said that government representatives would meet with student leaders in the coming days to address their concerns, but students behind the Occupy Central demonstrations say this isn't enough.
Joshua Wong, the leader of the student activist group Scholarism, reiterated that demand to Mashable's Jenni Ryall on Thursday. "I want CY Leung to step down as soon as possible," he said.