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| Hong Kong protests: Premier Li stresses social stability | Hong Kong protests: Premier Li stresses social stability |
| (6 months later) | |
| China's Premier Li Keqiang says he is sure social stability can be maintained in Hong Kong, as pro-democracy protests in the region entered a third week. | China's Premier Li Keqiang says he is sure social stability can be maintained in Hong Kong, as pro-democracy protests in the region entered a third week. |
| Mr Li made his comments during his trip to Germany, where he and Chancellor Angela Merkel signed trade agreements. | Mr Li made his comments during his trip to Germany, where he and Chancellor Angela Merkel signed trade agreements. |
| Thousands of protesters, demanding fully democratic elections, have paralysed parts of Hong Kong. | Thousands of protesters, demanding fully democratic elections, have paralysed parts of Hong Kong. |
| China has agreed to direct elections in 2017, but wants control over which candidates can stand. | China has agreed to direct elections in 2017, but wants control over which candidates can stand. |
| The pro-democracy protests, which had tens of thousands of participants at their peak, had decreased in size over the past week, as the government and student leaders agreed to hold talks. | The pro-democracy protests, which had tens of thousands of participants at their peak, had decreased in size over the past week, as the government and student leaders agreed to hold talks. |
| However, the government called off the talks on Thursday, saying the students' refusal to end their protest had made "constructive dialogue" impossible. | However, the government called off the talks on Thursday, saying the students' refusal to end their protest had made "constructive dialogue" impossible. |
| Leaders of the student movement also called on supporters to return to the streets, saying they would escalate their campaign if the government did not agree to meet them. | Leaders of the student movement also called on supporters to return to the streets, saying they would escalate their campaign if the government did not agree to meet them. |
| China's state media has strongly criticised the pro-democracy sit-in, describing it as an "illegal movement" driven by "evil forces". | China's state media has strongly criticised the pro-democracy sit-in, describing it as an "illegal movement" driven by "evil forces". |
| Speaking in a joint press conference with Mrs Merkel on Friday, Mr Li did not mention the protests directly. | Speaking in a joint press conference with Mrs Merkel on Friday, Mr Li did not mention the protests directly. |
| However, he said: "Maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong is not only in China's interests but is mostly in the interests of the people of Hong Kong." | However, he said: "Maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong is not only in China's interests but is mostly in the interests of the people of Hong Kong." |
| "I am sure the people of Hong Kong and the government of Hong Kong have the competency to ensure the wealth and stability of society... [while] protecting residents from injury and property damage." | "I am sure the people of Hong Kong and the government of Hong Kong have the competency to ensure the wealth and stability of society... [while] protecting residents from injury and property damage." |
| He said there would be "no change" to the "high degree of autonomy" currently enjoyed by Hong Kong, adding that "Hong Kong's affairs belong to the internal affairs of China". | He said there would be "no change" to the "high degree of autonomy" currently enjoyed by Hong Kong, adding that "Hong Kong's affairs belong to the internal affairs of China". |
| Mrs Merkel said: "The demonstrations have gone peacefully, and I hope it can remain that way." | Mrs Merkel said: "The demonstrations have gone peacefully, and I hope it can remain that way." |
| Mrs Merkel added that she hoped that "in a free exchange of opinions, solutions are found that satisfy the population in Hong Kong". | Mrs Merkel added that she hoped that "in a free exchange of opinions, solutions are found that satisfy the population in Hong Kong". |
| The demonstrations are centred on how Hong Kong's leader, known as the chief executive, should be elected. | The demonstrations are centred on how Hong Kong's leader, known as the chief executive, should be elected. |
| The protesters want to be able to directly elect Hong Kong's leader. | The protesters want to be able to directly elect Hong Kong's leader. |
| Under the current system, the chief executive is elected by a 1,200-person committee that consists primarily of pro-Beijing groups. | Under the current system, the chief executive is elected by a 1,200-person committee that consists primarily of pro-Beijing groups. |
| China has promised a public vote in the 2017 chief executive elections, but it says all candidates to be approved by a similar nominating committee - effectively giving Beijing the ability to screen out candidates. | China has promised a public vote in the 2017 chief executive elections, but it says all candidates to be approved by a similar nominating committee - effectively giving Beijing the ability to screen out candidates. |
| Activists in Hong Kong say this falls short of full democracy. | Activists in Hong Kong say this falls short of full democracy. |
| A key organiser of the protest group Occupy Central, Benny Tai, told the BBC that the government should offer protests a "roadmap" towards fully democratic elections in Hong Kong. | A key organiser of the protest group Occupy Central, Benny Tai, told the BBC that the government should offer protests a "roadmap" towards fully democratic elections in Hong Kong. |
| "In our constitution, the Basic Law, we have been promised with universal suffrage... you do not have such things in other parts of China," Dr Tai said. | "In our constitution, the Basic Law, we have been promised with universal suffrage... you do not have such things in other parts of China," Dr Tai said. |
| Hong Kong's mini-constitution came into effect after the former British colony was handed back to China in 1997. | Hong Kong's mini-constitution came into effect after the former British colony was handed back to China in 1997. |
| It states that "the ultimate aim is the selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures". | It states that "the ultimate aim is the selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures". |
| Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy | Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy |