No breakthrough in Hong Kong talks
Students yet to decide on holding further talks, find govt gestures ‘ illusory’
Thousands of Hong Kong protesters listened from the streets on Tuesday as student leaders debated their call for full democracy for the Chinese- run city with government leaders to try end a weeks- long occupation of major traffic arteries.
But, as had been widely expected, there was no breakthrough. Student leaders had yet to decide whether or not to hold a second round.
Beijing- backed city leader Leung Chun- ying had earlier hinted at a pro- cedural concession in choosing the next leader, but it fell well short of what the student- led protesters have been demanding.
Three large screens and projectors 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 chief secretary Carrie Lam spoke during the dialogue.
“( Officials) in the Hong Kong government can now decide whether to be democratic heroes or historical villains ... I believe every Hong Kong citizen is waiting to see,” student leader Alex Chow said.
Communist Party rulers in Beijing in August offered Hong Kong people the chance to vote for their own leader in 2017, but said only two to three candidates could run after getting majority backing from a 1,200- person nominating committee.
The protesters decry this as “fake” Chinese- style democracy. “We hope the Hong Kong government doesn’t become an obstacle on the democratic road for Hong Kong people,” Chow added.
“But that it will help us dismantle these road blocks and to lead Hong Kong people to bring about true democratic reform.” 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,” said Ms Lam, seated on one side of a U- shaped table with four colleagues facing an equal number of student leaders wearing black t- shirts.
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 only the government officials, not the students.
After the meeting, the students said they had yet to decide whether to hold further talks. Chow described the few gestures offered, including the situation report to Beijing, as the government having merely “tossed a few hollow and illusory” concessions. The panel chosen to pick candidates for Hong Kong’s 2017 election could be made “more democratic”, Mr Leung said before the talks began.