Pro-democracy protesters agree to hold formal talks with Hong Kong govt

Pro-democracy activists from Hong Kong's Occupy Central movement have reportedly agreed to hold formal talks with the government as the crowd has begun to shrink with several civil servants returning to work on Monday.

Although no date has been set for the meeting but students have declared that the talks would be called off if the remaining demonstrators were cleared from the streets by force, reported the BBC.

Demonstrators are protesting against China's decision to vet candidates in the 2017 Hong Kong elections. They are demanding a fully free election for the region's leader.

The first round of preparatory talks between student representatives and the government officials ended on Sunday night. Both sides agreed on Monday to begin a formal dialogue.