Hong Kong was calm this morning, with only a few hundred pro-democracy protesters blocking major roads, after students and the government agreed to start talks this week.

Government employees went to work unobstructed as only scattered dozens of demonstrators remained in the protest sites.

Kindergartens remained closed in some districts on Hong Kong Island because of transport delays caused by some street blockades. Middle and primary schools were open.

Students said they wanted to keep pressure on authorities, despite agreement yesterday to start talks with government officials on Friday.

Activists expressed disappointment on the proposed agenda with legal and constitutional issues being discussed at the beginning of the dialogue, but decided to go ahead with the talks.

“Our goals are very clear. We want to establish democratic elections and for Hong Kong people to have basic rights to elect our own chief executive,” student leader Lester Shum said yesterday evening.

- dpa