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Hong Kong protesters regroup at main protest site Hong Kong protesters braced for police crackdown
(about 5 hours later)
Pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong appear to be withdrawing from some protest sites and regrouping at the main site outside government buildings. Hundreds of pro-democracy campaigners are camped out on the streets of Hong Kong ahead of a government deadline for them to withdraw.
But student protesters denied blocking entrances to government HQ and insisted civil servants could return to work. Many suspect that police will try to remove them by force in the coming hours.
They said they would agree to the government's offer of talks if attacks on them were investigated and protest sites were not forcefully cleared. Hong Kong's leader says public offices and schools will open on Monday, and social order will be restored.
Hong Kong's leader says public offices and schools will open on Monday. The protesters are angry at China's plans to vet candidates when Hong Kong holds elections in 2017.
The protesters are angry at China's plans to vet election candidates in 2017. They are demanding that the central government in Beijing allow a fully free vote for the territory's leader.
They are demanding that the central government in Beijing allow Hong Kong to hold fully free elections in the next vote for the territory's leader. Protest groups have denied blocking entrances to government headquarters and insisted civil servants could return to work without obstruction.
Numbers dwindling The BBC's John Sudworth in Hong Kong says some want to hold out for tangible gains, while others fear tear-gas, rubber bullets and arrest, and think it is time to turn to dialogue.
But the BBC's John Sudworth in Hong Kong says the feeling on the streets of the city is that the endgame is about to begin. Earlier the groups said they would agree to the government's offer of talks if attacks on them were investigated and protest sites were not forcefully cleared.
The number of protesters has dwindled and many do not relish a brave last stand in the face of an expected forceful eviction by police, he adds. But discussions about opening a formal dialogue faltered after the sides failed to agree on basic principles on which the talks should be held.
Hope for talks
Our correspondent says numbers have dwindled in recent days, as many do not relish a brave last stand in the face of an expected forceful eviction by police.
Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung had called on the protesters to end the demonstrations, warning that police had a responsibility to take all actions necessary to resume social order.Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung had called on the protesters to end the demonstrations, warning that police had a responsibility to take all actions necessary to resume social order.
The Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) said it had always maintained access to the government headquarters, adding that there was no reason for employees not to return to work on Monday.The Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) said it had always maintained access to the government headquarters, adding that there was no reason for employees not to return to work on Monday.
At the scene: Julianna Liu, BBC News, Mong KokAt the scene: Julianna Liu, BBC News, Mong Kok
After days of tension, a measure of calm has come to the commercial district of Mong Kok, the site of sometimes violent confrontations between pro-democracy activists and counter-protesters.After days of tension, a measure of calm has come to the commercial district of Mong Kok, the site of sometimes violent confrontations between pro-democracy activists and counter-protesters.
Earlier, there were scenes of confusion when, under pressure from an unfriendly crowd, a student leader announced on live television that demonstrators would pack up and leave the area, moving to the main protest site in Admiralty and ceding ground to their opponents.Earlier, there were scenes of confusion when, under pressure from an unfriendly crowd, a student leader announced on live television that demonstrators would pack up and leave the area, moving to the main protest site in Admiralty and ceding ground to their opponents.
It was seen as a blow to the sit-in movement.It was seen as a blow to the sit-in movement.
That group left. But others refused to leave and soon took its place.That group left. But others refused to leave and soon took its place.
Members from a more radical pro-democracy group called Civic Passion arrived, as did lawmaker Raymond Wong and his supporters.Members from a more radical pro-democracy group called Civic Passion arrived, as did lawmaker Raymond Wong and his supporters.
For now, Mong Kok remains a stronghold for demonstrators, with hundreds sitting on the ground demanding democratic reforms.For now, Mong Kok remains a stronghold for demonstrators, with hundreds sitting on the ground demanding democratic reforms.
Both the Hong Kong government and protesters indicated on Sunday that they were willing to start talks to find a resolution to the week-long standoff.Both the Hong Kong government and protesters indicated on Sunday that they were willing to start talks to find a resolution to the week-long standoff.
But the HKFS said it was "difficult to convince the public and to ask the protesters to disperse without any realistic result". AFP news agency reported that student leader Lester Shum had met mid-ranking officials to set conditions for a meeting, but apparently without result.
It added in a statement that it had two conditions for resuming talks: Talks had originally been scheduled for Saturday, but protesters withdrew after the attacks on Friday night, which were mainly in the Mong Kok district.
Talks had been scheduled for Saturday, but protesters withdrew after the attacks on Friday night, which were mainly in the Mong Kok district.
Some of the protesters in Mong Kok appeared to be leaving the site on Sunday, saying they were joining the main protest group outside government buildings in the Admiralty district.Some of the protesters in Mong Kok appeared to be leaving the site on Sunday, saying they were joining the main protest group outside government buildings in the Admiralty district.
However, others decided to stay put.However, others decided to stay put.
Thousands of people held a rally overnight, defying calls from the Beijing-backed authorities for them to disperse.Thousands of people held a rally overnight, defying calls from the Beijing-backed authorities for them to disperse.
Crowds chanted: "Democracy now! Democracy in Hong Kong!" as speakers from the pro-democracy movement urged them to persist in their campaign.Crowds chanted: "Democracy now! Democracy in Hong Kong!" as speakers from the pro-democracy movement urged them to persist in their campaign.
On Saturday, police said they had arrested 19 people who had been involved in clashes with protesters, adding that eight of them had "triad backgrounds".
Correspondents say triad gangs have traditionally been known for drug-running, prostitution and extortion networks but have in recent years become involved in legitimate ventures like property development and finance.
Some are also believed to have links with the political establishment, fuelling accusations that they have been paid by the authorities to stir up trouble.
'Doomed to fail''Doomed to fail'
What began as a peaceful sit-in to demand democracy on 22 September escalated last Sunday when riot police used tear gas against unarmed students converging on the government headquarters.What began as a peaceful sit-in to demand democracy on 22 September escalated last Sunday when riot police used tear gas against unarmed students converging on the government headquarters.
The police response was widely condemned as an overreaction, prompting thousands of people to join the rallies and block key areas, including Hong Kong's financial district.The police response was widely condemned as an overreaction, prompting thousands of people to join the rallies and block key areas, including Hong Kong's financial district.
At the heart of the row between the protesters and the government is China's insistence on tight rules on nominations for candidates wanting to stand for election in 2017.At the heart of the row between the protesters and the government is China's insistence on tight rules on nominations for candidates wanting to stand for election in 2017.
The protesters say the restrictions mean the polls will fall short of the free elections they are seeking and have called for Mr Leung to step down.The protesters say the restrictions mean the polls will fall short of the free elections they are seeking and have called for Mr Leung to step down.
But the central government in Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail".But the central government in Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail".
Hong Kong democracy timelineHong Kong democracy timeline
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversyQ&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy
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