Three founders of a civil disobedience campaign that helped spark Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protest movement have entered a police station to surrender after calling for an end to the street demonstrations.

Police in Hong Kong have begun removing barricades erected two weeks ago by protesters.

Hong Kong protesters have welcomed an offer of talks by the territory’s leader to defuse the ongoing crisis over demonstrations seeking democratic reforms.

Hong Kong’s embattled leader has defied demands by pro-democracy protesters to step down.

China’s parliament said it will tightly control the nomination of candidates for a landmark election in Hong Kong in 2017, a move likely to trigger mass protests in the city’s Central business district by disappointed democracy activists.