Hong Kong protesters agree to scale back demonstrations

Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday agreed to scale back their blockades ahead of the work week so schools and government offices could open. The concession came as both sides said they were willing to begin negotiations toward ending the week-old stalemate.

Demonstrators blockaded the entrance to the government headquarters throughout last week, but they will reportedly remove some barricades and regroup at the main protest site. The government had warned protesters to pull back or face another crackdown, with a police spokesperson saying, "To restore order, we are determined and we are confident we have the capability to take any necessary action."

Tens of thousands of people have flooded Hong Kong's streets to protest restrictions China placed on the 2017 election to select the city's next leader.

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