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| Hong Kong protests: Talks accepted amid protest stand-off | Hong Kong protests: Talks accepted amid protest stand-off |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Protesters in Hong Kong have accepted an offer of talks with the government after a week of unrest. | Protesters in Hong Kong have accepted an offer of talks with the government after a week of unrest. |
| Chief Executive CY Leung Leung offered the talks with his deputy late on Thursday but rejected calls to resign. | Chief Executive CY Leung Leung offered the talks with his deputy late on Thursday but rejected calls to resign. |
| The protesters, angry at China's plan to vet election candidates, have been occupying parts of the city since the weekend, though numbers have fallen. | The protesters, angry at China's plan to vet election candidates, have been occupying parts of the city since the weekend, though numbers have fallen. |
| Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail". | Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail". |
| On Friday Hong Kong temporarily closed government offices in the main protest-hit area, saying staff should work from home because roads were blocked. | On Friday Hong Kong temporarily closed government offices in the main protest-hit area, saying staff should work from home because roads were blocked. |
| Though the protests were significantly smaller on Friday, some groups remained on the streets. In a sign of tensions, there were some scuffles as police tried to keep protesters back from the buildings. | Though the protests were significantly smaller on Friday, some groups remained on the streets. In a sign of tensions, there were some scuffles as police tried to keep protesters back from the buildings. |
| Scuffles also broke out in the Mong Kok district between protesters and residents who oppose the demonstrations. Similar disturbances were reported from the Causeway Bay area. | |
| Police were sent to Mong Kok where pro-Beijing groups had reportedly tried to remove barriers and tents. | |
| At a news conference, the police have heavily criticised the protesters for obstructing traffic and blocking supplies reaching the government offices. | |
| "It is unreasonable, unnecessary and severely affecting emergency services and the life of the public," police spokesman Hui Chun-tak said. | |
| He urged protesters to leave the area outside the government buildings in an orderly fashion, but stressed the police would remain impartial and "exercise the greatest tolerance". | |
| Saira Asher, BBC News, Hong Kong | Saira Asher, BBC News, Hong Kong |
| Protest leaders were meeting outside the government buildings in Admiralty, central Hong Kong to decide their next steps. But the numbers have dwindled early on Friday here at the main protest site and outside CY Leung's office. | |
| The mood is a lot more subdued than on Thursday night when hundreds of protestors were pulling on masks and plastic covers and facing down the police. | The mood is a lot more subdued than on Thursday night when hundreds of protestors were pulling on masks and plastic covers and facing down the police. |
| Many of the demonstrators have vowed to come back later but with no date set for the talks between Chief Secretary Carrie Lam and the protestors its unclear whether they can keep up the momentum. | Many of the demonstrators have vowed to come back later but with no date set for the talks between Chief Secretary Carrie Lam and the protestors its unclear whether they can keep up the momentum. |
| 'Turning point' | 'Turning point' |
| On the issue of talks, the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) said it would have a public meeting with Ms Lam, but insisted that Mr Leung should step down, saying he had "lost his integrity". | |
| The Occupy Central movement issued a statement saying it hoped "the talks can provide a turning point in the current political stalemate". It also called for Mr Leung's resignation. | The Occupy Central movement issued a statement saying it hoped "the talks can provide a turning point in the current political stalemate". It also called for Mr Leung's resignation. |
| But Benny Tai, co-founder of Occupy, also visited students outside government offices - who have reportedly attempted to block supplies from reaching the police - and urged them to show understanding. | But Benny Tai, co-founder of Occupy, also visited students outside government offices - who have reportedly attempted to block supplies from reaching the police - and urged them to show understanding. |
| "Everyone loves Hong Kong and we all hope to have a peaceful and just society, and on this journey we must show inclusivity," he said, according to Apple Daily. | "Everyone loves Hong Kong and we all hope to have a peaceful and just society, and on this journey we must show inclusivity," he said, according to Apple Daily. |
| 'Serious consequences' | 'Serious consequences' |
| The students had threatened to escalate their protests and occupy government buildings if Mr Leung did not resign by Thursday night. | The students had threatened to escalate their protests and occupy government buildings if Mr Leung did not resign by Thursday night. |
| But hours before the deadline, he said in a news briefing: "I will not resign because I have to continue with the work for elections." He warned that any attempts to occupy buildings would lead to "serious consequences". | But hours before the deadline, he said in a news briefing: "I will not resign because I have to continue with the work for elections." He warned that any attempts to occupy buildings would lead to "serious consequences". |
| At the heart of the row is how Hong Kong elects its next leader. In August, Beijing ruled that while Hong Kong residents would have a vote, their choice of candidates would be restricted by a committee. | At the heart of the row is how Hong Kong elects its next leader. In August, Beijing ruled that while Hong Kong residents would have a vote, their choice of candidates would be restricted by a committee. |
| The protesters say this falls short of the free elections they are seeking. | The protesters say this falls short of the free elections they are seeking. |
| The BBC's Celia Hatton in Beijing says China has taken a tough stance, saying there is absolutely no room for concessions. | The BBC's Celia Hatton in Beijing says China has taken a tough stance, saying there is absolutely no room for concessions. |
| Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, in its latest editorial, said Beijing's ruling in August was "the necessary decision, and the only decision", and that the protests were "doomed to fail". | Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, in its latest editorial, said Beijing's ruling in August was "the necessary decision, and the only decision", and that the protests were "doomed to fail". |
| Writing in the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's last British governor before the territory was handed back to China in 1997, Chris Patten, said that "open and honest" consultations were the way forward now. | Writing in the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's last British governor before the territory was handed back to China in 1997, Chris Patten, said that "open and honest" consultations were the way forward now. |
| "Dialogue is the only sensible way forward. Hong Kong's citizens are not irresponsible or unreasonable. A decent compromise that allows for elections that people can recognise as fair, not fixed, is surely available." | "Dialogue is the only sensible way forward. Hong Kong's citizens are not irresponsible or unreasonable. A decent compromise that allows for elections that people can recognise as fair, not fixed, is surely available." |
| The US consul general to Hong Kong Clifford Hart said in a Facebook statement that "the common desire for Hong Kong's welfare provides an excellent basis for launching dialogue". | The US consul general to Hong Kong Clifford Hart said in a Facebook statement that "the common desire for Hong Kong's welfare provides an excellent basis for launching dialogue". |
| Hong Kong democracy timeline | Hong Kong democracy timeline |
| Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy | Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy |
| Are you affected by the protests? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you affected by the protests? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.ukor text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.ukor text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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