HONG KONG -- Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said on Sunday that China's central authorities are fully aware of Hong Kong's situation and have expressed confidence in him and the Hong Kong government to tackle the Occupy Central movement.

In a television interview, Leung said the central government has openly expressed serious concern over Hong Kong, and that it is fully aware of what is happening in the city and the reasons behind the events that are unfolding.

He also said that the Occupy Central movement is not entirely a domestic movement, as external forces are involved.

Leung said "there is obviously participation by people, organizations, from outside of Hong Kong, in politics in Hong Kong, over a long time. And this is not the only time when they do it. And this is not an exception, either."

He noted that no one can now control the movement, which has gotten out of control even for the movement organizer.

"It's gone out of control even for the people who started it, for people who planned it, for people who scripted it. You now see them still writing articles about it or appearing in some neighborhoods that have been occupied, and talked to the people as recent as last night. But they cannot end the movement, which is a major concern."

Leung said it will take time to work out a solution to the problem and he wants to see a peaceful and meaningful end to it, adding that Hong Kong has been fortunate that the central government has had such confidence in and support for himself and the Hong Kong government.

Looking forward, Leung said he has responsibility to deliver universal suffrage in Hong Kong in 2017 according to the Basic Law, is working towards that goal and hopes it will happen.

Thousands of protesters, most of whom are students, joined the Occupy Central movement to express their discontent with the framework set by the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) on electing the region's next leader through universal suffrage.

According to Hong Kong Basic Law and top legislature's decisions, more than 5 million Hong Kong voters could have a say to who will become the chief executive in 2017 by the "one man, one vote" election, which had never been realized under the British colonial rule.