Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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                           Hong Kong Returns to Work

   by VOA News

   Hong Kong civil servants returned to work at the government's
   headquarters Monday as pro-democracy protests that have paralyzed the
   area for more than a week subsided.

   The workers were allowed to pass through protesters' barricades without
   being stopped.

   The number of demonstrators fell sharply overnight into the hundreds.
   This past week, tens of thousands of protesters had filled the streets
   where clashes with police broke out on several occasions.

   Authorities had set a Monday deadline to clear the streets so
   businesses, school and government offices could re-open.

   Pro-democracy demonstrators on Sunday removed some barriers blocking
   access to the government's downtown headquarters and left the area. But
   the protesters appeared divided, and some vowed to stay put.

   Student protest leaders say they have been holding talks with
   government officials on possible formal discussions with Hong Kong
   Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, who was appointed last week by Chief
   Executive Leung Chun-ying to begin a dialogue with the students.

   Protesters, who want true universal suffrage for the territory's next
   election, have been calling for Leung's resignation. But the chief
   executive has said he will not step down. On Saturday, he warned that
   all necessary action will be taken to ensure government employee access
   to offices this week.

   The protests are the most serious unrest in Hong Kong since Beijing
   took control of the one-time British colony in 1997.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/hong-kong-returns-to-work/2473692.htm
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/hong-kong-returns-to-work/2473692.html