Hong Kong protests: Talks accepted amid protest stand-off

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. 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”. 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. 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”.