Occupy Central won't start early, says Benny Tai, after student clashes with police leave dozens injured
Officers clash with protesters in Admiralty in the early hours of Saturday; police say more than a dozen arrests made since Friday night
Occupy Central co-founder Benny Tai Yiu-ting refused to launch the civil disobedience movement earlier than scheduled after student protesters called for immediate action following a night of clashes with police at government headquarters which saw dozens injured.
Riot police clashed with hundreds of protesters outside government headquarters in Admiralty in the early hours of Saturday, after students had earlier stormed the building's forecourt, known as "Civic Square".
UPDATE: Police clear last of student protesters as Scholarism's Joshua Wong faces charges
"Different people have different views. Some people want it to come earlier, but some people want to stick to schedule. After consideration, we will not be press ahead earlier than scheduled," he said.
Watch: Riot police deployed after Hong Kong students storm Civic Square
Occupy Central is expected to be launched on National Day, October 1, after Tai this week spoke of "a grand banquet" in Central while others were marking "the big day".
Tai said he will stay at Tamar until the last moment, even if that means he gets arrested by the police if officers clear the area. And if he gets arrested, the civil disobedience programme will still go ahead because they have a well-thought out plan.