Co-initiators of HK Occupy movement to surrender themselves  

香港“占中三子”今日向警方自首

The three co-initiators of Hong Kong's Occupy movement said on Tuesday that they will surrender themselves to the police on Wednesday.

Benny Tai, Chu Yiu-ming and Chan Kin-man made the announcement at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, in which they urged protesters, including students, to leave the Occupy areas.

"As we prepare to surrender, we three urge the students to retreat," they said.

It was an important time to transform the movement when violence emerged, according to Dai.

The trio also admitted that they had participated in gatherings at occupied areas and the action may constitute a crime.

Occupy Central protests in Hong Kong's busiest areas since Sept. 28 have caused serious traffic disruption, less tourists, temporary closure of schools and banks and a slump in the trading of the local stock market.

There had also been a series of clashes between protesters and police, with one of the most furious scuffles taking place on Sunday when the protesters stormed the police cordon lines and blockaded the access to the Central Government Offices in Admiralty district.

The chaotic scenes have raised worries and irritation among Hong Kong citizens.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said Monday that a number of polls had revealed that public tolerance towards the Occupy Central movement was decreasing while demand for police clearance was increasing.

He noted that over the past two months, blockade of roads has dented Hong Kong's international image and caused damage to the local economy.