Hong Kong's most prominent tycoon Li Ka-shing yesterday urged protesters who have occupied parts of the city since late last month to go home, after police mounted their toughest action against them in more than a week.

Li, Asia's richest man and chairman of property developer Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd, had made no public comment on the protests but broke his silence to say if Hong Kong's rule of law broke down it would be the city's "greatest sorrow."

"Since the handover, the 'one country, two systems' formula has protected Hong Kong's lifestyle," Li said, referring to the formula under which the city has been run since its return to China in 1997.

"I urge everyone not to be agitated. I urge everyone not to let today's passion become the regret for tomorrow.

"I earnestly request everyone to return to their families," Li said in his first public comments on the protests.

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