Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders to ‘surrender’: Founders to turn themselves in to police and urge protesters to retreat as group’s poster-boy goes on hunger strike
Leaders announce move in commitment to ‘principle of peace and love’
Comes after dozens injured in worst night of riots since protests began
Teenage poster-boy and three other student leaders go on hunger strike
Move is desperate last bid to force government to make election reforms
The three original founders of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Occupy movement tearfully announced today they would ‘surrender’ by turning themselves in to police and urged protesters still on the streets to retreat.
The announcement came after hundreds of pro-democracy protesters clashed with police late Sunday, leaving dozens injured in one of the worst nights of violence since rallies began over two months ago.
'As we prepare to surrender, we three urge the students to retreat - to put down deep roots in the community and transform the movement,' said Occupy Central leader Benny Tai.
His plea came as teenage poster-child of the movement, Joshua Wong, and two other student leaders went on hunger strike late Monday in a last-ditch attempt to force the government’s hand.
Standing shoulder to shoulder: The three founders of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Occupy protest, (l-r) Chan Kin-man, Benny Tai and Chu Yiu-ming, announce they would ‘surrender’ by turning themselves in to police tomorrow in a commitment to the rule of law and ‘the principle of peace and love’
Tai said the trio would surrender to police on Wednesday in a commitment to the rule of law and ‘the principle of peace and love’.
'Surrendering is not an act of cowardice, it is the courage to act on a promise. To surrender is not to fail, it is a silent denunciation of a heartless government,' Tai said.
He praised the bravery of frontline occupiers and criticised the police as ‘out of control’, saying it was time for protesters to leave ‘this dangerous place’.
Academics Tai and Chan Kin-man, and Baptist minister Chu Yiu-ming founded the Occupy Central civil disobedience group in early 2013 to push for political reforms, but have increasingly taken a backseat as more radical student groups came to the fore.
Leaders announce move in commitment to ‘principle of peace and love’
Comes after dozens injured in worst night of riots since protests began
Teenage poster-boy and three other student leaders go on hunger strike
Move is desperate last bid to force government to make election reforms
The three original founders of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Occupy movement tearfully announced today they would ‘surrender’ by turning themselves in to police and urged protesters still on the streets to retreat.
The announcement came after hundreds of pro-democracy protesters clashed with police late Sunday, leaving dozens injured in one of the worst nights of violence since rallies began over two months ago.
'As we prepare to surrender, we three urge the students to retreat - to put down deep roots in the community and transform the movement,' said Occupy Central leader Benny Tai.
His plea came as teenage poster-child of the movement, Joshua Wong, and two other student leaders went on hunger strike late Monday in a last-ditch attempt to force the government’s hand.
Standing shoulder to shoulder: The three founders of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Occupy protest, (l-r) Chan Kin-man, Benny Tai and Chu Yiu-ming, announce they would ‘surrender’ by turning themselves in to police tomorrow in a commitment to the rule of law and ‘the principle of peace and love’
Tai said the trio would surrender to police on Wednesday in a commitment to the rule of law and ‘the principle of peace and love’.
'Surrendering is not an act of cowardice, it is the courage to act on a promise. To surrender is not to fail, it is a silent denunciation of a heartless government,' Tai said.
He praised the bravery of frontline occupiers and criticised the police as ‘out of control’, saying it was time for protesters to leave ‘this dangerous place’.
Academics Tai and Chan Kin-man, and Baptist minister Chu Yiu-ming founded the Occupy Central civil disobedience group in early 2013 to push for political reforms, but have increasingly taken a backseat as more radical student groups came to the fore.
