BEIJING, Sept. 28 -- The central government is confident that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) can handle the Occupy Central movement according to law, a spokesperson with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council said on Sunday.

The remarks came hours after some Hong Kongers launched the illegal gathering of Occupy Central in the small hours of Sunday.

The central government firmly opposes all illegal activities that could undermine rule of law and jeopardize "social tranquility," and it offers its strong backing to the HKSAR government, the spokesperson said.