Thousands of protestors are staging a a sit-in outside government headquarters in Hong Kong as the pro-democracy demonstration intensifies.

Protesters are calling on China to scrap restrictions on the election of the territory's next leader.

In his first public statement since the week long protests began, Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung has pledged "further consultations", amid the deepening stand-off.

Mr Leung also said that the elections in 2017 would go ahead as planned.

The initial protest began as a strike by students, calling for democratic reforms.