Supporters urge Occupy protesters to unite amid mixed messages over talks
Supporters say leadership is needed as dispute over agenda threatens talks with officials; lawyers warn civil disobedience is 'no defence'
Pro-democracy groups were urged yesterday to form an alliance to better press their claims as a dispute threatened to derail talks with top officials scheduled for tomorrow.
Protesters also came under pressure from the Bar Association. The regulatory body for barristers, which last week said the police decision to used tear gas to clear the streets of Admiralty on September 28 was "excessive", warned protesters that civil disobedience did not constitute a defence to a criminal charge.
"Even on a sympathetic view of civil disobedience, it is essential for participants to respect the rights and freedoms of other people who do not necessarily agree with their views and not to cause excessive damage or inconvenience," it said in a statement.
Preparations for the dialogue between Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and student representatives appeared to take a step backwards as the two sides squabbled over the agenda.
The government said the Federation of Students' representatives agreed on Tuesday that constitutional development under the Basic Law would be on the agenda for the first round of talks.