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Hong Kong's Occupy Central founders surrender to police Hong Kong's Occupy Central founders surrender to police
(35 minutes later)
The three founders of Hong Kong's Occupy Central movement have turned themselves in to police over their role in pro-democracy demonstrations.The three founders of Hong Kong's Occupy Central movement have turned themselves in to police over their role in pro-democracy demonstrations.
Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming said they wanted to take responsibility for protests deemed illegal by authorities.Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming said they wanted to take responsibility for protests deemed illegal by authorities.
But after a brief meeting they left without being arrested or charged.But after a brief meeting they left without being arrested or charged.
Protesters have been demonstrating for two months over Beijing's restrictions on Hong Kong's election process.Protesters have been demonstrating for two months over Beijing's restrictions on Hong Kong's election process.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Hong Kong said the three founders were not thought to be wanted for any specific offence, but they had never disputed the Hong Kong government's view that the protests and blockades constitute a public order offence. The BBC's John Sudworth in Hong Kong says the surrender was a symbolic gesture and a way for them to show that the illegal actions they have engaged in was for a wider purpose and that they have nothing to hide.
Occupy Central led the street protests when they began in September, but has since receded as student groups have become more prominent. The three men walked into the Central Police Station to turn themselves in together with Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who has supported the protests.
The protesters want China to scrap its plan to screen candidates for the territory's 2017 leadership election, and want the Hong Kong government to renegotiate the political arrangement with Beijing. They left less than an hour later, saying they were being released without charge.
Mr Tai told the BBC that police officers gave each of them a form. They were asked to provide their personal details and tick against a list of offences. The men ticked the box for "illegal assembly".
Officers had told them that because they had not been arrested, the police could only collect information from then and would "invite them back to the police station at an appropriate time", said Mr Tai.
Some supporters followed suit. Police said a total of 24 people surrendered and officers told them to immediately stop illegal occupation of public places.
'Arrest them''Arrest them'
The Occupy founders were met by a large gathering of supporters outside the police station, who shouted: "I want true democracy!" as they walked in. As they arrived, the Occupy founders were met by a large gathering of supporters outside the police station, who shouted: "I want true democracy!" as they walked in.
Hong Kong's Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who has supported the protests, also turned himself in to the authorities at the same time.
Anti-Occupy groups also showed up, greeting the men with jeers and shouts of: "Arrest them!"Anti-Occupy groups also showed up, greeting the men with jeers and shouts of: "Arrest them!"
Occupy's announcement that it was reporting to police followed clashes between protesters and police at the weekend. Earlier, Benny Tai told a radio show that he had no regrets, saying: "In hindsight, I would still do the same thing."
They said this would demonstrate "commitment and responsibility", and that they wanted to transform Occupy into "a sustainable civil society movement". He also told the BBC he was facing more than 30 lawsuits from businesses or individuals alleging disruption by the protests.
"In order to challenge this unjust system, we are willing to face all consequences," they said. Occupy Central led the street protests when they began in September, but has since receded as student groups have become more prominent.
Benny Tai told a radio show on Wednesday morning that he had no regrets, saying: "In hindsight, I would still do the same thing." The protesters want China to scrap its plan to screen candidates for the territory's 2017 leadership election, and want the Hong Kong government to renegotiate the political arrangement with Beijing.
He told the BBC he was facing more than 30 lawsuits from businesses or individuals alleging disruption by the protests.
Hunger strikeHunger strike
The men on Tuesday also repeated their call for student activists to scale back their protests, amid sporadic clashes with police. Announcing their plan to present themselves to police on Tuesday, the Occupy Central founders repeated their call for student activists to scale back their protests, amid sporadic clashes with police.
One protest camp in Mong Kok has been taken down by the authorities, but a few hundred protesters remain on the streets and have refused to vacate the remaining two camps at Admiralty and Causeway Bay. One protest camp in Mong Kok has been taken down by the authorities, but a few hundred protesters refuse to vacate the remaining two camps at Admiralty and Causeway Bay.
On Sunday night and early Monday, hundreds of young protesters clashed with police as they tried to surround government offices in Admiralty.On Sunday night and early Monday, hundreds of young protesters clashed with police as they tried to surround government offices in Admiralty.
Alex Chow, head of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, told reporters that student leaders would not follow Occupy and turn themselves into police.Alex Chow, head of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, told reporters that student leaders would not follow Occupy and turn themselves into police.
But he added that they would discuss with protesters whether they should end their action.But he added that they would discuss with protesters whether they should end their action.
Two student leaders, Joshua Wong and Lester Shum, have previously been arrested in clashes with police and are currently out on bail. Meanwhile another student leader, Joshua Wong, is on a hunger strike along with two female members of his Scholarism group to demand talks on political reform with the Hong Kong authorities.
Mr Wong is on a hunger strike, along with two female members of his Scholarism group, to demand talks with the Hong Kong authorities over the movement's ideas for political reform. On Wednesday, they read out a letter addressed to Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying calling on him to "ease the agony of suppression and the lack of freedom (suffered) by Hong Kong people."
On Wednesday, Mr Wong and the two girls read out a letter addressed to Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.
"Please don't ask us to avoid the pain of a hunger strike. Please first ease the agony of suppression and the lack of freedom (suffered) by Hong Kong people," they said.
"The government can't afford to pay the costly price of losing a generation of youngsters."
Hong Kong democracy timelineHong Kong democracy timeline
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversyQ&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy
Are you in Hong Kong? What is your reaction to the protests? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Hong Kong? What is your reaction to the protests? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Have your sayHave your say