"People would not take to the streets if the government was responsive," he said.

Chan said he understood HSBC's "cautious" approach with Occupy's civil disobedience campaign just around the corner, because the passageway had been used for protests in the past.

But the bank's move meant one less shelter in bad weather if the non-violent protest was to take place nearby, he said. "[The protest] will be tough," he said.

Under HSBC's contract with the government, the 3,200 square metre area should be open to public daily. It can be taken to court if it violates the rules.

Meanwhile, lawyer Maggie Chan Man-ki yesterday proposed a "perfected" version of a parental consent form for pupils joining next week's class boycott for democracy.

She said schools were welcome to use her form, which highlights the "risks" of joining any public event, including that of committing a criminal offence.

Agnes Chow Ting, of activist group Scholarism, said Chan's form was meant to put pressure on pupils via their parents.

"If she doesn't agree with the boycotts, she should say so openly instead of branding a peaceful rally as violent," she said.

Separately, the University of Hong Kong's law dean Professor Michael Hor Yew Meng said his faculty would support anyone who got into trouble in Occupy Central, including organiser and HKU law academic Benny Tai Yiu-ting.

"I have not personally received any pressure … to do anything with Benny," he said. "Benny is entitled to his constitutional right to say what he thinks and to act according to his conscience."