Business professionals sit atop concrete barriers in the middle of the road in Hong Kong and eat their lunch.

They spend their break time with students camped out in the pro-democracy movement that's been ongoing since late September.

The encouragement and camaraderie is palpable.

I think we should support the students who've made sacrifices for this, one office worker said. This fight is for all of Hong Kong.

Those sacrifices have not come easy. They've stopped going to class, but they haven't stopped studying. Tables have been set up for students to use for homework.

The outcome of their fight for free and open elections still looks highly doubtful.

During a news conference Thursday, Chief Executive CY Leung said officials are ready to resume talks with students, but left little hope of a compromise.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEUNG CHUN-YING, SAYING:

"Politics is the art of the possible. And we have to draw a line