HONG KONG: Hundreds of protesters regrouped in central Hong Kong on Friday to push their call for democracy, a day after the government called off talks with students amid a two-week standoff that has shaken communist China’s capitalist hub.

Crunch negotiations between protesters and Beijing-backed city officials were slated for Friday, but fell apart Thursday after the government pulled out, blaming student leaders for attempting to escalate demonstrations.

The democracy protest leaders implored supporters to bring tents and dig in for the long haul, threatening to expand their occupation of key parts of the city after talks with the government collapsed.

Scores arrived with tents, suggesting they were in for the long haul despite a call by police to remove obstacles that have blocked major roads in and out of the financial centre, causing traffic and commuter chaos with tail-backs stretching for miles.

Police said they would take action at an appropriate time, without specifying what. “I’ve just set up camp here under the bridge and I will come down to occupy whenever I can,” said Wong Lai-wa, 23. “I may have to go back to school during the day, but I will make every effort to come back.”

The protesters are well equipped to sit it out, with supply stations stocked with essentials such as water, biscuits, noodles and cereals. They also have makeshift showers and dozens of tents already pitched where they can sleep.

The government’s decision to call off the talks with students on Thursday came as democratic lawmakers demanded anti-graft officers investigate a $6.4 million business payout to the city’s pro-Beijing leader, Leung Chun-ying, while in office.

Australia’s Fairfax Media this week revealed the business payout to Leung by an Australian engineering company. “For sure it will be jam packed with people later today in Admiralty after people get off work and students finish school,” said Joshua Wong, a 17-year-old who heads the group Scholarism that represents secondary school pupils.

ment keeps denying the meeting,” student leader Alex Chow said.