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HK talks fail to break deadlock

HONG KONG — Thousands in Hong Kong were glued to the television yesterday evening for the highly-anticipated talks between student protest leaders and government officials, but as widely expected, there was no breakthrough.

Pro-democracy protesters watching a live screening of the talks between Hong Kong government officials and students at an occupied area outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district yesterday. Photo: AP

Pro-democracy protesters watching a live screening of the talks between Hong Kong government officials and students at an occupied area outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district yesterday. Photo: AP

HONG KONG — Thousands in Hong Kong were glued to the television yesterday evening for the highly-anticipated talks between student protest leaders and government officials, but as widely expected, there was no breakthrough.

Student leaders have yet to decide whether to hold a second round of talks with government officials, who stuck to the official position that Hong Kong’s mini-Constitution cannot be amended to accommodate protesters’ demands, while also saying that many others do not share their views.

Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, was not part of yesterday’s televised discussions, which were led by the No 2 official, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam.

Facing her and her four colleagues were five student leaders wearing black T-shirts who, along with thousands of others, have occupied main streets in three areas of the Chinese-run city since Sept 28 to demand fully free elections.

Three large screens were set up at the tent-strewn main protest site on a thoroughfare in the Admiralty district, next to the government offices, with periodic cheering for remarks by student leaders and jeering when Ms Lam spoke during the dialogue.

In August, China endorsed a framework to let Hong Kong people vote for their own leader in the 2017 election, but said only two or three candidates could run after getting majority backing from a 1,200-person nominating committee. The protesters say the committee would be stacked with Beijing loyalists and want the nominations to be fully open.

In his opening remarks at yesterday’s talks, student leader Alex Chow said the decision by China’s legislature to rule out so-called civil nomination of candidates had “emasculated” Hong Kong.

“We don’t want anointment,” said Mr Chow, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of three groups leading the protests.

“We hope the Hong Kong government doesn’t become an obstacle on the democratic road for Hong Kong people.”

Earlier yesterday, Mr Leung had hinted at a procedural concession in choosing the next leader, but fell far short of what the student-led protesters have been demanding.

At the talks, Ms Lam reiterated the government’s position that open nominations were not possible under Hong Kong law.

“The students’ voices and demands have been clearly heard by the special administrative region government, Hong Kong society and the central government,” she said.

“But no matter how high the ideals, they must be strived for through legal, appropriate and rational means.”

Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen echoed her stance. “We hope you would understand that there are a lot of people who are not in Mong Kok, who are not in Admiralty, many people at home who aren’t insisting on civil nomination,” he said.

After the meeting, Mr Chow described the few gestures offered as the government having merely “tossed (them) a few hollow and illusory” concessions.

Mr Kenneth Chan Ka-lok, a lawmaker from the Civic Party, which supports the protests, said the talks were more like a “monologue”.

“I am very disappointed with the government ... They didn’t even give reasons to people to stop protesting,” he told the South China Morning Post.

Ms Lam called the talks “constructive” at a press briefing afterwards, saying she was hopeful of several rounds of talks.

Yesterday’s unprecedented open debate reflected a shift in the government’s approach to engage rather than shun a movement that has lasted beyond most people’s expectations.

The protests have sparked occasional scuffles between demonstrators and the police, who had used tear gas, pepper spray and batons on the crowds, although they have yet to fully clear the streets.

The officials said they would send a report to Beijing on the situation in Hong Kong and the protesters’ demands.

China’s state broadcaster showed the talks live, but focused only on the government officials. Agencies

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