Hong Kong protests collapse as protest leaders surrender to police

The Hong Kong Occupy Central pro-democracy protests has finally collapsed as the three original founders of the movement tearfully announced that they were surrendering themselves to the police after two eventful months of protests.

Pro-democracy activists Benny Tai (C) Chan Kin-man (L) and Chu Yiu-ming, pictured during a press conference in Hong Kong, on December 2, 2014. Photo: AFP

Making the announcement on Tuesday, they asked protesters still on the streets to retreat.

Occupy Central leader Benny Tai, according to AFP, said he and his two partners would surrender to police on Wednesday in a commitment to the rule of law and "the principle of peace and love".

Occupy Central was founded by Tai, Chan Kin-man and Chu Yiu-ming in 2013 in order to push for political reforms. They however stepped back a bit as more radical student groups picked up the fight.

Saying that it was time for the protesters to leave “this dangerous place”, he hailed them for their bravery and flayed the police for getting “out of control” 

His words:

 “As we prepare to surrender, we three urge the students to retreat –- to put down deep roots in the community and transform the movement"

"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.

Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters had clashed with police late Sunday leaving dozens injured, in one of the worst nights of violence.

Protesters - a mix of students and supporters of the Occupy Central pro-democracy movement – are protesting the government’s plans to vet candidates for Hong Kong’s 2017 leadership elections. They want a free choice of candidates when they cast their ballots for the chief executive - something Beijing says is out of the question.

The growth of the protest which started over two months ago had prompted the Chinese government to seek ways to derail it by means which included disrupting the protesters means of information exchange which was the social media.

The government blocked mainland Internet users from visiting some online services and websites. Instagram, which was being used to publicise pictures of the teeming protesters in the streets, was also blocked in the country.

Protestors were also targeted with a mobile spam. All that did not deter the protesters who found other means to get the word out. 

Below is a timeline showing the genesis of the issue on ground:

•    1984: Britain and China sign an agreement where Hong Kong is guaranteed "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" for 50 years following the handover in 1997.
•    2004: China rules that its approval must be sought for changes to Hong Kong's election laws.
•    2008: China says it will consider allowing direct elections by 2017.
•    June-July 2014: Pro-democracy activists hold an unofficial referendum on political reform and a large rally. This is followed by protests by pro-Beijing activists.
•    31 August 2014: China says it will allow direct elections in 2017, but voters will only be able to choose from a list of pre-approved candidates. Activists stage protests.
•    22 September 2014: Student groups launch a week-long boycott of classes in protest.

See more pictures:  WARNING! China doesn’t want you to see these pictures

Check out how protesters and the Chinese government fought it on the hi-tech level