How Occupy Central leaders lost grip on protest

The early start of Occupy Central, the geography of the protest site and the overnight police reinforcements meant it was difficult for Occupy leaders to take full command of the situation.

After police used tear gas, Occupy leaders called on protesters to retreat to Tamar Park, but some remained on the road.

Co-founder Chan Kin-man said the crowds that stormed onto Harcourt Road and Connaught Road Central were "not under [Occupy's] control". "Their actions were not organised by us," Chan said.

The crowds on those roads were peaceful, he noted, and "it was the police who provoked them with tear gas".

Another co-founder, the Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, conceded that bringing forward the Occupy date had affected the movement's operation.

"A lot of our equipment was unable to be used, including the audio and portable toilets," Chu said. Their walkie-talkies had also not arrived. Police confiscated the audio equipment, including amplifiers, saying they were not allowed at an unlawful assembly.

The lack of communication tools considerably weakened the command of Occupy leaders.