Watch: Aerial drone captures sheer size of the Hong Kong protests

As the pro-democracy protests intensified in Hong Kong despite the region’s embattled leader calling for an immediate end to street demonstrations, an aerial drone captured footage of the crowd protest on a street, showing the sheer size of the protests.

The video showed a road in the city’s business district almost entirely full of protesters. Moreover, no vehicles were running on the road, with the vehicles seen in the footage standing completely still.

The protests, the worst civil unrest Hong Kong has experienced since its 1997 handover from British rule, were sparked by Beijing’s decision last month to restrict who can stand for the city’s top post.

Hong Kongers will be able to vote for their next chief executive in 2017 elections, but only two or three candidates vetted by a pro-Beijing committee will be allowed to stand — something demonstrators have labelled a “fake democracy” that shows Hong Kong cannot trust its mainland overseers.

Schools in affected areas on Tuesday were again closed and commuters faced disruption, with many bus routes suspended or rerouted and taxis scarce. Throughout the morning the number of protester dwindled from their overnight highs, when tens of thousands turned the city’s downtown into a carnival after riot police withdrew.

But those manning the barricades showed no signs of backing down, digging in for a third day of occupying major thoroughfares.

Among global reactions to the Hong Kong protests, the United States led international calls for Hong Kong authorities to “exercise restraint”.

“We believe an open society, with the highest possible degree of autonomy and governed by the rule of law, is essential for Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

Former colonial power Britain also expressed concern, calling for “constructive” talks to end the standoff.

But on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing opposed “any foreign and external interference in China’s internal affairs by any country”.

(With inputs from AFP)