Hong Kong protest leaders turn themselves in to police

Three leaders of the months-long pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong turned themselves into police on Wednesday for their role in the “Occupy Central” movement, but were allowed to leave without facing any charges.

Before being released, professors Benny Tai Yiu-ting and Chan Kin-man and the Rev. Chu Yiu-ming were told by police that the protests in Hong Kong’s financial center are illegal and should stop.

Dozens of other protesters turned themselves in as well. The police took down their information and had them sign forms saying which offenses they should be arrested for.

“To surrender is not to fail, it is a silent denunciation of a heartless government,” the three leaders said earlier.

The move is not expected to dampen the spirits of student protesters, who continue to camp out in two Hong Kong sites, leading to sometimes violent clashes with police.