The government has agreed to engage with student organisers leading the protests in preliminary talks on constitutional reform in an attempt to defuse the situation, an unthinkable prospect before the mass campaign.

"Beijing and the Hong Kong government have been condemning the Occupy Central campaign for a year and a half and now the Hong Kong government has agreed to talk – and certainly this has the approval of Beijing – so this is a very important achievement," said Joseph Cheng, the convener of an alliance of pro-democracy members of Hong Kong's legislative council.

"Above all else, Hong Kong people have realised that if they come out and speak out they can have an impact, and I'm sure this will keep the movement going."

Despite pressure from residents and business owners disgruntled with the disruption, police have not tried to remove barricades still crippling major thoroughfares in central Hong Kong, as well as in Mong Kok and Causeway Bay, aware it would inflame the situation with a core group of protesters in the low thousands persisting with nightly vigils.

The spectre of protests swelling remains present if negotiations with the government fall through, which could see student leaders rally crowds to escalate demonstrations again.

Pro-democracy legislators have also pledged to oppose legislation that would see Beijing's elections proposal become law, and are planning to filibuster other government bills.

Legislators, student groups and the civil disobedience movement Occupy Central had lobbied the government to ensure that Beijing honoured its promise of delivering democratic elections to the territory. Beijing announced last month that Hong Kong would have its first-ever direct election for its chief executive in 2017, but said candidates would have to be  screened by a nominating committee – sparking the mass protests that have drawn hundreds of thousands to the streets.

On Tuesday, primary schools in affected areas joined secondary schools in reopening after a week-long break due to traffic disruptions, with parents complaining of longer commute times. Chief executive Leung Chun-ying held cabinet meetings with his executive committee at his residence due to demonstrations outside his office near government headquarters.

Counter-protesters angry at the Occupy movement continued to create a tense atmosphere in Mong Kok, while hundreds picketed the offices of Apple Daily, the newspaper published by tycoon Jimmy Lai known for its pro-democracy bent and criticism of the Chinese Communist Party.