Hong Kong occupy-central protesters canceled planned talks with the government on electoral reforms Friday after groups of people tried to drive them from streets they had occupied in one of the city’s main shopping areas.

The Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of the groups leading the protests, said they saw no choice but to cancel the talks after the government ordered the streets to be cleared.

Hong Kong’s leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, proposed the talks late Thursday, seeking to defuse the standoff, the biggest challenge to Beijing’s authority since China took control of the former British colony in 1997. His refusal to yield to calls for his resignation angered many protesters.

On Friday, Leung spoke about the planned meeting before the protesters said they would not attend.

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (R) and Chief Secretary Carrie Lam hold a press conference at Leung’s official residence in Hong Kong on October 2, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ANTHONY WALLACE

“About two to three hours ago tonight, the Hong Kong Federation of Students issued an open letter asking for a meeting with the chief secretary representing Hong Kong government to discuss one item and this is the constitutional development of Hong Kong,” said Leung.
“We have studied the letter in detail and I’m now appointing the Chief Secretary to represent Hong Kong government to meet with the representatives of Hong Kong Federation of Students to discuss constitutional development matters.”

In the afternoon, occupy-central activists linked arms and held hands as they tried to stand their ground. Police formed cordons and escorted some of the protesters away as onlookers chanted, “Pack up!” and “Go home!”

But the tide seemed to turn in the evening, when hundreds assembled, shouting at the opponents of the protesters and haranguing police to protect them. Police ended up escorting some of the people in their 30s and older out of the area.

The police and other top officials instructed everyone to avoid violence and go home.

“We should not use violence or disrupt social order in any situation,” Leung said. “All people gathering in those areas should disperse as soon as possible and restore social order, so that daily lives will be restored to normal.”

Some Hong Kong residents have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Occupy Central movement, as it has interrupted the economy. Due to the disturbance, Hong Kong stocks closed down 296.23 points, or 1.28 percent to 22,932.98 points on Tuesday.

An anti protester shouts at demonstrators as they protect a barricade in an occupied area of Hong Kong on October 3, 2014. Pro-democracy protesters clashed with opposition groups in two of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping districts on October 3, with police stepping in to try to calm the chaos. AFP PHOTO / Philippe Lopez

“They are occupying the street, which is already violating the law. The protesters say they want rightful law in Hong Kong, and they are doing the exact opposite thing which is against the law,” said Lau Bowei, a manager at a company in central district.

Report complied with information from The Associated Press, Reuters, CCTV News and Xinhua.