Massive Protests in Hong Kong
ROMANS: The streets of Hong Kong this morning filled, filled with protesters. Huge crowds of demonstrators began filling the streets on Hong Kong Saturday becoming the target of police swinging batons and firing tear gas. This follows a week of student-led pro-democracy boycotts and protests. At issue the demonstrators say is the heavy hand of Beijing trying to control the outcome of the city's coming elections for chief executive. Standing by live in Hong Kong, CNN's Ivan Watson. And, Ivan, there has been a sort of a shift, I mean, from the tear gas and from the police presence we had seen. What I see around you is a sea of young people. Tell us what's happening.</s>IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. I mean, I'm standing in what's supposed to be the main highway that runs through Hong Kong, Christine. And as you can see, it is packed with thousands and thousands of protesters and demonstrators who have gathered here. And the tear gas and some of the harsher measures used by riot police before dawn this morning, that has evaporated. And the kids are really out there. You can see -- I mean, just filling the highway ramps that normally at this hour, shortly before 6:00 p.m. local time, would be full of buses and cars and taxis taking people home from work. There's a sign in the distance there that says, quote, "We demand universal suffrage." And that's what these protests are all about. The demonstrators saying they want true democracy. Real elections in 2017. A chance to elect their top official in Hong Kong. They say they don't want the ruling communist party in mainland China to hand pick vetted candidates that then they would have to vote for. The central government, the local authorities here in Hong Kong, they say all of this is illegal. The Chinese government says that these are the actions of radicals here. But I've got to say, this is one of the most peaceful and polite mass protests I have ever covered. People walk up giving me water, offering me crackers. Nobody even smoking cigarettes or drinking beer around here. It is a very peaceful scene. There are police very close by. There are no tensions with them at the moment. And right now what we have really is a test of wills between protesters who are shutting down, paralyzing downtown Hong Kong's financial hub to try to get their local authorities to give in to their democratic demands -- Christine.</s>ROMANS: It's just remarkable, just remarkable on a Monday to see banks closed. The financial center basically stopped so that all of those people can protest for their right to vote for whom they choose. Thank you so much for that, Ivan Watson. Amazing pictures there. Let's take a look at what's coming up on "NEW DAY." Chris Cuomo joins us now. Hey, Chris.</s>CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Good morning, Christine. How are you? We're going to have the latest reaction to that surprising admission from President Obama. He says the U.S. underestimated ISIS as the terror group came together in the ruins of Syria's civil war. We're going to also reveal results of a CNN-ORC poll. Where are you on all these big pressing issues? You're going to be surprised to hear how much of the country supports the airstrikes against ISIS. We're also going to speak with Senator John McCain and Tom Ridge, the former head of Homeland Security. We're going to give you the perspective on where things stand in the war today. Another story we're watching in Washington. More trouble for the Secret Service. This may be the most serious yet. To be honest. The agency really take four days to realize that bullets had entered the White House in 2011. A new report says that's what happened. We're going to speak with the "Washington Post" reporter who broke that story for you, Christine. So we'll get into that. That matters. It's one of those stories that seems to have alluded us.</s>ROMANS: Yes.</s>CUOMO: But no more.</s>ROMANS: No. That does matter. And since Berman got the day off, he's sleeping, and we should crank call him actually. Berman is sleeping in so I'll be joining you up there in a few minutes. All right?</s>CUOMO: I look forward to seeing you and I will do that.</s>ROMANS: OK. Thanks. Forty-seven minutes past the hour. A remarkable story out of Japan. Dozens killed when a volcano suddenly erupts. Hundreds of hikers stranded. We're live right after the break.