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 Protesters on the streets, while united in their calls for full
democracy for the Chinese-ruled city, have been split over tactics
since the demonstrations started in late September and the movement
has lacked a clear leadership.
On Monday, thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists forced the
temporary closure of government headquarters after clashing with
police, defying police orders to pull back.
Benny Tai, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, urged the
protesters to go home on Tuesday, saying the situation had become
dangerous.
"The government that uses police batons to maintain its authority is
a government that is beyond reason," said Tai, one of three leaders
of the Occupy movement.
"For the sake of the occupier safety and for the sake of the
original intention of love and peace, as we prepare to surrender, we
three urge students to retreat, to put down deep roots in the
community and transform the movement to extend the spirit of the
umbrella movement."
 The three plan to surrender to police on Wednesday for their role in
gatherings labeled illegal by the government.
A few hours earlier student leader Joshua Wong, who announced on
Monday he would go on hunger strike to demand electoral reform,
urged protesters to regroup in the heart of the city.
Wong, 18, also urged the Hong Kong government to resume dialogue
with students.
Protesters, who have occupied key streets for more than two months,
have called on the city's embattled leader Leung Chun-ying to step
down after Beijing in August ruled out a free choice of candidates
for Hong Kong's next leader.
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Wong, who has been charged with obstructing court bailiffs during an
operation to clear a protest camp in Mong Kok, across the harbor
from Admiralty, is no stranger to protest movements.
Two years ago, with the help of secondary school activists calling
themselves Scholarism, he forced the Hong Kong government to shelve
plans to introduce a pro-China national education scheme in schools.
Hundreds of tents remain on the streets of Admiralty, next to
government headquarters in the center of the city, where students
have erected a makeshift village with study areas, supply stations
and art displays.
Hong Kong leader Leung said on Monday police had been tolerant but
would take "resolute action", suggesting that patience may be
running out.
(Additional reporting by Clare Jim, Twinnie Siu and Amanda Lee;
Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
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