The clock is counting down on Hong Kong protesters' ultimatum for the territory's leader to quit or face the occupation of government buildings.
Hong Kong chief executive CY Leung has been given until the end of Thursday (local time) to step down or face a significant escalation in the standoff.
Around 200 people gathered outside his office in the early hours of Thursday as 50 police officers stood guard from behind metal barriers.
An occupation of buildings would mark a new stage in the protesters' peaceful sit-in, raising fears that police could again use tear gas to keep control.
China appears to be slowly losing patience with the protesters' refusal to budge from the streets since late last week.
Communist Party-run newspaper People's Daily has warned of "unimaginable consequences" if activists ignore calls to go home.
State TV, meanwhile, has urged protesters to support authorities efforts to "deploy police enforcement decisively" and "restore the social order in Hong Kong as soon as possible".
The demonstrators involved in the so-called "umbrella revolution" are railing against an order which means they will have to choose their leader, or chief executive, from among Communist loyalists chosen by Beijing.
Mr Leung has reportedly said he is willing to let the protests continue for weeks if necessary - but has refused to resign.
The chief executive was booed and heckled by hundreds of people on Wednesday as he arrived for a flag-raising event to mark China's National Day. People turned their back as the ceremony began.
Protester numbers swelled into the tens of thousands on the public holiday as many more people joined the student-dominated crowds.
A network of food and drink supply stations has formed as protests seemingly dig-in for the long haul.
Many are equipped with goggles, umbrellas and plastic macs, fearing that police may again resort to tear gas and baton charges, as they did at the weekend.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had "high hopes" authorities would use restraint, while the David Cameron told Sky News he was "deeply concerned" about the situation in the former British colony.
China has issued a stern warning to other countries not to meddle in its affairs.
"The Chinese government has very firmly and clearly stated its position. Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs," Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told Mr Kerry ahead of talks.
"All countries should respect China's sovereignty and this is a basic principle of governing international relations."
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Gallery: Peaceful Protests In Hong Kong
Student protesters shine lights as they chant pro-democracy slogans on the streets in Hong Kong
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Thousands of pro-democracy supporters continue to occupy the streets surrounding Hong Kong's financial district
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Protest leaders have set a deadline for 1 October for their demands to be met and are calling for open elections and the resignation of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying
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The demonstrators have demanded full universal suffrage after Beijing said it would allow elections for the semi-autonomous city's next leader in 2017 but would vet the candidates, a decision branded a "fake democracy"
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Pro-democracy demonstrators check their smartphones in the central district
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Protesters let an ambulance go through the crowd
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Some walk past the People's Liberation Army Garrison headquarters
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Student protesters sleep on the streets
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A protester covers her mouth with tape that reads "democracy"
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A pro-democracy protester argues with a pro-Beijing demonstrator
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Buses covered with messages of support stop at a main street at Mongkok shopping district
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People look at messages left on a stranded bus by pro-democracy protestors
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Hong Kong students create protest signs
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Student pro-democracy group Scholarism organiser Joshua Wong (C) makes a gesture at the flag-raising Ceremony in Golden Bauhinia Square as part of China's National Day celebrations
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Protesters rest on the street with placards outside the Hong Kong government complex
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A Hong Kong student catches up with his school work during a quiet moment at the protest site
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Protesters join hands during the National Day flag-raising ceremony attended by Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying
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A pro-democracy protester (R) makes a gesture as a pro-Bejing supporter speaks to the public at a rally in Causeway Bay
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Pro-democracy demonstrators gather near a ceremony marking China's 65th National Day
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A sign announces that an Infiniti car dealership is closed temporarily "due to social unrest"
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Hong Kong residents provide musical entertainment at the protest site
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Umbrellas, which have come to symbolise the so-called 'Umbrella Revolution' of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, are hung up together next to the central government offices
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A woman stands in front of a water distribution point
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An "Umbrella Movement" sign is seen outside the Hong Kong Government Complex
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Protesters look at placards on a fence outside the Hong Kong government complex
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A couple take wedding photogtaphs in front of protesters
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Demonstrators relaxing on the streets
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Hong Kong student protesters help with the clean up recycling of the garbage during a quiet moment at the protest site
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People walk through a highway tunnel barricaded off to traffic by pro-democracy protestors
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Demonstrators chant slogans as they gather near National day festivities
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People walk through the empty streets, where double decker buses and taxis usually drive by, near the venue for the National Day flag-raising ceremony
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A Hong Kong student catches up with his school work during a quiet moment
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Policemen stand guard as helicopters fly by displaying the Hong Kong (L) and Chinese national flag (R), near a ceremony marking China's National Day
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A father stands next to his son as he shouts pro-democracy slogans
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Demonstrators display placards
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A student protester sleeps under umbrellas
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A pro-democracy demonstrator stretches at a protest site
Protesters also forced roads to be closed outside the Chinese embassy in London on Wednesday as a large crowd gathered peacefully to express their solidarity.
Around 5,000 people also massed in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, a renegade province in the eyes of China's government.
Meanwhile, efforts to apparently to keep the protests hidden from people on the mainland have seen social media blackouts.
Photo-sharing site Instagram has been blocked in China since Sunday.
And Weibo - China's version of Twitter - is filtering out search terms like Occupy Central as authorities tighten their usual controls on internet activity.
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