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Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong have been forced to postpone a planned vote on their next steps after their leaders could not agree on how it should be administered.
The mobile phone vote – on how to respond to concessions offered by Hong Kong's government dismissed as “fake democracy” by the demonstrators – had been scheduled for Sunday and Monday.
The precise nature of the disagreements that scuppered the ballot remains unclear, although student leader Alex Chow confirmed that the organisers had reservations over how to ensure only protesters could vote, and feared that opposition forces would attempt to hijack proceedings.
“We admit that we did not have enough discussion with the people before deciding to go ahead with the vote and we apologise to the people,” the organisers said in a statement.
In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014Show all 32 1 /32In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Pro-democracy protesters make gestures to the police outside Central Government Complex, 1 December
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Pro-democracy protesters build barricades at the bottom of an escalator outside Central Government Complex, 1 December
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police and protesters scuffle near the office of the Chief Executive in Hong Kong as clashes erupt again on 1 December
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests An injured protester lies prostrate on the ground as chaos surges around her on 1 December
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Thousands of protesters gathered in Hong Kong's Victoria Square to commemorate the anniversary of Tiananmen Square in June
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester raises his umbrellas in front of tear gas fired by riot police in the main street to Hong Kong's financial Central district in September
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police officers stand guard during clashes with pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong on September 28, 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police officers stand in a cloud of tear gas during a demonstration in Hong Kong on September 28, 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A demonstrator gestures opposite policemen during a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A man's face is doused with water after police fired tear gas at protesters on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Riot police stand guard outside of the Hong Kong Government Building on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester walks in tear gas fired by riot policemen on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters hold umbrellas against a line of police officers near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester raises his umbrellas in front of tear gas fired by riot police on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests housands of demonstrators storm onto a highway after breaking through police cordons during ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters disperse as riot police fire teargas outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Demonstrators surround cars and block roads on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Police use pepper spray as they clash with protesters jamming the main street to the financial Central district outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters wear masks and goggles to protect themselves from pepper spray while blocking a police car outside the government headquarters on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy supporter Jimmy Lai attends a rally near the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests The sign for the Hong Kong central government offices is seen crossed out on 28 September 2014
In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Policemen stand behind a fence decorated with yellow ribbons during a demonstration on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (C) and Chief Secretary Carrie Lam (R) attend a press conference in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Food and beverages are provided free to protesters during a demonstration outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protestors tie up barricades during a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Legislative Counsel on 28 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Thousands of protesters attend a rally outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong as riot police stand guard on 27 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Students demonstrate against China's decision not to allow a completely free election in Hong Kong in 2017
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters are dragged away by police after storming into government headquarters in Hong Kong on 27 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters clash with riot police in Hong Kong on 27 September 2014
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Students and police clashed in demonstrations against China's decision not to allow a completely free election in Hong Kong in 2017 on 27 September
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests A protester holds up placards which reads "Occupy Central" (L) and "Civil Disobedience" (R)
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In pictures: Hong Kong democracy protest 2014 Hong Kong protests Protesters chant slogans in front of the police
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The leaders of the movement – known as the “umbrella revolution” after protesters repelled police tear gas with umbrellas – are under pressure to resolve their differences and make progress due to the disruption caused to residents by their occupation.
Although their numbers have diminished, demonstrators remain at several major road junctions in Hong Kong a month after tens of thousands of residents took to the streets to demand free leadership elections for the semi-autonomous city.
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