The statue "Umbrella Man" by the Hong Kong artist known as Milk. (Agence France-Presse)
Hong Kong:
Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters remained stubbornly encamped on the streets early on Monday, just hours before a government deadline to clear key thoroughfares they have blockaded for more than a week.
The city's embattled leader Leung Chun-ying has warned he will "take all necessary actions to restore social order" after a mass campaign for free elections that has seen tens of thousands of people pour onto the streets.
Leung was forced to shut government headquarters on Friday -- leaving 3,000 civil servants at home -- because of the massed ranks of protesters blocking its access roads. He has insisted they must reopen on Monday.
But while the crowds outside the complex had dwindled to around a thousand in the early hours, some protesters made it clear they had no intention of leaving.
"We will stay here all night and wait for the police to attack," said 20-year-old protester Ken Chung.
"It's going to be a long fight."
The protesters demand the right to nominate who can run for election as the next leader of the key financial hub in 2017.
China's Communist authorities insist that only pre-approved candidates -- like Leung, whom the demonstrators deride as a pro-Beijing stooge -- will be able to run.
- Protesters divided -
There was a relaxed atmosphere amongst the largely youthful crowds outside government headquarters early Monday, with many expressing doubt that the police would use force to clear them from the massive highway they have brought to a standstill.
A striking statue of a man defiantly wielding an umbrella -- which has become a symbol of Hong Kong's democracy movement -- was put up at the site in Hong Kong's Admiralty district to loud cheers.
But the protesters were divided over whether they would stay and resist any attempt to remove them after dawn, with concerns growing that their campaign could be losing direction after a week-long standoff that has at times erupted into violence.
"If there is any violence or any (use of) weapons, I think I will probably go home," admitted 27-year-old lawyer Chan Wang-Ingai.
But at a second protest site across the harbour in the packed shopping district of Mong Kok, some demonstrators were in fighting mood.
"We are not going to leave before we get what we want -- even if they shoot us with rubber bullets," said Oscar Ng, who wore a bicycle helmet on his head and a mask to protect his face.
The Mong Kok protest has been the scene of ugly clashes in recent days, with demonstrators angrily accusing police of bringing in hired thugs from triad criminal gangs to stir up trouble -- a claim authorities have strongly denied.
The working-class district was heavily policed early Monday after chaotic scenes there on Saturday night, with riot police using batons and pepper spray to beat back protesters who said they had been cooperating with triad-linked troublemakers.
- Ominous warning -
In a minor breakthrough, student leader Lester Shum met Sunday with mid-ranking officials with the aim of setting conditions for a meeting with Leung's deputy Carrie Lam.
Students have been at the vanguard of the so-called "umbrella revolution", and Leung offered the talks with Lam last week in a bid to end an impasse that has wreaked havoc with the city's transport system and taken a heavy toll on businesses.
University staff made an impassioned plea Sunday for students to head home after Leung issued an ominous warning that the situation could "evolve into a state beyond control" if the protests do not end soon.
Sunday marked exactly a week since police fired tear gas on protesters in an effort to disperse them, but triggering a huge wave of sympathy that massively swelled their ranks.
"The most pressing task for the government is to reopen access to the CGO (Central Government Offices) on Monday so that some 3,000 CGO staff can return to their workplace and continue to provide services to the public," Leung said on Saturday.
Secondary schools in the affected areas would also reopen, the Education Bureau said, as the city administration pushed for Hong Kong to get back to normal.
Student leaders and the government have both said they are willing to enter talks aimed at ending the deadlock, but only under certain conditions.
The government said "the door to dialogue is always open, if the (main student union) HKFS is willing", calling on them to help clear protesters from areas around Admiralty.
HKFS, the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said allegations that police had failed to protect them from violence must be investigated before agreeing to talks.
"Stop threatening and suppressing all the occupiers -- then there is possibility to talk," said HKFS leader Alex Chow.
"Then we will believe the government has the sincerity to fight for the democracy with Hong Kong people."
The city's embattled leader Leung Chun-ying has warned he will "take all necessary actions to restore social order" after a mass campaign for free elections that has seen tens of thousands of people pour onto the streets.
Leung was forced to shut government headquarters on Friday -- leaving 3,000 civil servants at home -- because of the massed ranks of protesters blocking its access roads. He has insisted they must reopen on Monday.
But while the crowds outside the complex had dwindled to around a thousand in the early hours, some protesters made it clear they had no intention of leaving.
"We will stay here all night and wait for the police to attack," said 20-year-old protester Ken Chung.
"It's going to be a long fight."
The protesters demand the right to nominate who can run for election as the next leader of the key financial hub in 2017.
China's Communist authorities insist that only pre-approved candidates -- like Leung, whom the demonstrators deride as a pro-Beijing stooge -- will be able to run.
- Protesters divided -
There was a relaxed atmosphere amongst the largely youthful crowds outside government headquarters early Monday, with many expressing doubt that the police would use force to clear them from the massive highway they have brought to a standstill.
A striking statue of a man defiantly wielding an umbrella -- which has become a symbol of Hong Kong's democracy movement -- was put up at the site in Hong Kong's Admiralty district to loud cheers.
But the protesters were divided over whether they would stay and resist any attempt to remove them after dawn, with concerns growing that their campaign could be losing direction after a week-long standoff that has at times erupted into violence.
"If there is any violence or any (use of) weapons, I think I will probably go home," admitted 27-year-old lawyer Chan Wang-Ingai.
But at a second protest site across the harbour in the packed shopping district of Mong Kok, some demonstrators were in fighting mood.
"We are not going to leave before we get what we want -- even if they shoot us with rubber bullets," said Oscar Ng, who wore a bicycle helmet on his head and a mask to protect his face.
The Mong Kok protest has been the scene of ugly clashes in recent days, with demonstrators angrily accusing police of bringing in hired thugs from triad criminal gangs to stir up trouble -- a claim authorities have strongly denied.
The working-class district was heavily policed early Monday after chaotic scenes there on Saturday night, with riot police using batons and pepper spray to beat back protesters who said they had been cooperating with triad-linked troublemakers.
- Ominous warning -
In a minor breakthrough, student leader Lester Shum met Sunday with mid-ranking officials with the aim of setting conditions for a meeting with Leung's deputy Carrie Lam.
Students have been at the vanguard of the so-called "umbrella revolution", and Leung offered the talks with Lam last week in a bid to end an impasse that has wreaked havoc with the city's transport system and taken a heavy toll on businesses.
University staff made an impassioned plea Sunday for students to head home after Leung issued an ominous warning that the situation could "evolve into a state beyond control" if the protests do not end soon.
Sunday marked exactly a week since police fired tear gas on protesters in an effort to disperse them, but triggering a huge wave of sympathy that massively swelled their ranks.
"The most pressing task for the government is to reopen access to the CGO (Central Government Offices) on Monday so that some 3,000 CGO staff can return to their workplace and continue to provide services to the public," Leung said on Saturday.
Secondary schools in the affected areas would also reopen, the Education Bureau said, as the city administration pushed for Hong Kong to get back to normal.
Student leaders and the government have both said they are willing to enter talks aimed at ending the deadlock, but only under certain conditions.
The government said "the door to dialogue is always open, if the (main student union) HKFS is willing", calling on them to help clear protesters from areas around Admiralty.
HKFS, the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said allegations that police had failed to protect them from violence must be investigated before agreeing to talks.
"Stop threatening and suppressing all the occupiers -- then there is possibility to talk," said HKFS leader Alex Chow.
"Then we will believe the government has the sincerity to fight for the democracy with Hong Kong people."
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