Hong Kong tent protesters insist they will quit 'village' after Legislative Council political reform vote

Protesters camping outside the Legislative Council say they will leave the area once the political reform proposal is voted down, as their presence is aimed only at exerting pressure on pandemocrat lawmakers.

They made the comments as pro-Beijing media questioned whether they were gearing up for clashes with police after glass bottles and wooden planks were found, and CCTV and electric locks were installed at one tent.

But two police officers armed with a detailed map of the tents said they conducted checks four times a day, and had found "nothing unusual" in the tents outside the government headquarters and the Legco complex in Admiralty, which protesters call "Tim Mei village".

"Once it [the reform proposal] is voted down, we will go," said Four Lai, who claimed to have been at the site since a class boycott began in September last year. It was followed by the 79-day Occupy protests.

"There's no point staying here any longer after it's voted down," he said, adding that at least half of the "villagers" would leave.

"We continue the Occupy protests outside the Legislative Council because we believe our presence can serve as a reminder to the pan-democrats that they should vote down this proposal as promised."