'I'm not an undercover cop,' says policeman turned Occupy protester in Admiralty

An Occupy protester, who caused anger and confusion when he announced that crowds would withdraw from a key protest site in Admiralty, admitted he is an auxiliary police officer.

But Joe Yeung Yat-long, who is turning 21 in a few days, had to bat down rumours he was a spy for the police.

Yeung made brief headlines on television when he was seen shaking hands with a police officer to seal a supposed agreement that demonstrators would stop blockading a section of Lung Wo Road near Tim Wa Avenue, which is the main access to CY Leung's office.

But his announcement was quickly undone when angry protesters rushed to the site and sat down on the road, refusing to give way to traffic.

Yeung said he was called upon to act as a de facto leader of the leaderless occupation in Admiralty. After days of dwindling participation, he sensed an urgency to ask those gathered to retreat. "It's dangerous to stay behind. Police could easily clear the crowds if they wish," he said.

Yeung, a history major at Shue Yan University who joined the Auxiliary Police Force last year, said he felt "betrayed" earlier this week when he enabled a few vehicles into the chief executive's office, only to find out later that the vehicles had weapons inside.