A prominent Hong Kong teen protest leader has said that he is going on a hunger strike after a failed attempt by pro-democracy activists to step up their flagging movement for democratic reforms by surrounding government headquarters.

Dozens of pro-democracy protesters are engaged in a tense stand-off with riot police near Hong Kong’s government headquarters.

Hong Kong police have warned of serious consequences if pro-democracy protesters try to occupy government buildings, as they have threatened to do if the territory’s leader does not resign by today.