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| Hong Kong: Government ready to talk with protesters but rejects key concessions | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s leader said Thursday he is ready to start talks with pro-democracy demonstrators as early as next week, even as he ruled out any concessions that might make headway toward meeting the protesters’ demands. | HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s leader said Thursday he is ready to start talks with pro-democracy demonstrators as early as next week, even as he ruled out any concessions that might make headway toward meeting the protesters’ demands. |
| There was no immediate reaction from organizers of the protests — a showdown over Beijing’s control on political affairs and freedoms in the former British colony — but political analysts said Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying had effectively offered talks with one hand while closing the door to compromise with the other. | There was no immediate reaction from organizers of the protests — a showdown over Beijing’s control on political affairs and freedoms in the former British colony — but political analysts said Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying had effectively offered talks with one hand while closing the door to compromise with the other. |
| “Over the last few days, including this morning through third parties, we expressed a wish to the students to start the dialogue to discuss universal suffrage,” Leung told reporters, referring to one of the central issues in the confrontation: The process for how to elect Leung’s successor in 2017. | “Over the last few days, including this morning through third parties, we expressed a wish to the students to start the dialogue to discuss universal suffrage,” Leung told reporters, referring to one of the central issues in the confrontation: The process for how to elect Leung’s successor in 2017. |
| But he continued to rule out any attempt to overturn – or even try to challenge – the Chinese Communist Party’s August ruling that provoked the protests. | But he continued to rule out any attempt to overturn – or even try to challenge – the Chinese Communist Party’s August ruling that provoked the protests. |
| China said the election would be open to all voters for the first time in Hong Kong’s history, but the choices on the ballot will be limited to those approved by Beijing. Among the qualifications: The candidates must “love China.” | China said the election would be open to all voters for the first time in Hong Kong’s history, but the choices on the ballot will be limited to those approved by Beijing. Among the qualifications: The candidates must “love China.” |
| “Politics is the art of the possible, and let me draw a line between the possible and the impossible,” Leung said, spelling out that questioning Beijing’s decision was not an option. “The central authority has said clearly that it will not retract the decision.” | “Politics is the art of the possible, and let me draw a line between the possible and the impossible,” Leung said, spelling out that questioning Beijing’s decision was not an option. “The central authority has said clearly that it will not retract the decision.” |
| “The most constructive thing the Hong Kong government can offer the students is sit down and listen to the students about what we can do together within the framework” of Beijing’s election rules, he said. | “The most constructive thing the Hong Kong government can offer the students is sit down and listen to the students about what we can do together within the framework” of Beijing’s election rules, he said. |
| Last week, the government called off planned talks after student leaders called for a rally at the protest site to coincide with the dialogue. Leung’s latest proposal may offer little room to ease the three-week standoff. | Last week, the government called off planned talks after student leaders called for a rally at the protest site to coincide with the dialogue. Leung’s latest proposal may offer little room to ease the three-week standoff. |
| “All the protests would be for nothing, pretty much, if they can’t discuss the very thing they are protesting about,” said Michael Davis, a law professor at Hong Kong University. | “All the protests would be for nothing, pretty much, if they can’t discuss the very thing they are protesting about,” said Michael Davis, a law professor at Hong Kong University. |
| “We can’t even raise questions to the Beijing government?” he added. “What kind of autonomy is that?” | “We can’t even raise questions to the Beijing government?” he added. “What kind of autonomy is that?” |
| Hong Kong was offered a “high degree of autonomy” by China after the 1997 handover from British rule. But critics say China is chipping away at the promise, and Leung is doing next to nothing to stand in the way. | Hong Kong was offered a “high degree of autonomy” by China after the 1997 handover from British rule. But critics say China is chipping away at the promise, and Leung is doing next to nothing to stand in the way. |
| With the nominating committee for the 2017 ballot stacked with pro-Beijing figures, it would be almost impossible for a pro-democracy candidate to win nomination. Students want the public to have the right to nominate candidates, but Leung says that would contravene Hong Kong’s mini-constitution or Basic Law. | |
| Constitutional experts have proposed several compromises, including giving people the right to directly elect the nominating committee itself. But Leung has made it clear none of the alternatives can be explored. | Constitutional experts have proposed several compromises, including giving people the right to directly elect the nominating committee itself. But Leung has made it clear none of the alternatives can be explored. |
| Another bone of contention is a “public opinion” report submitted in July by the Hong Kong government to Beijing. The document supported China’s rules for the election vetting. | Another bone of contention is a “public opinion” report submitted in July by the Hong Kong government to Beijing. The document supported China’s rules for the election vetting. |
| Protesters say the report grossly underplayed popular demands for genuine democracy, and have asked the government to consider submitting a supplementary report to Beijing explaining the opposition. | Protesters say the report grossly underplayed popular demands for genuine democracy, and have asked the government to consider submitting a supplementary report to Beijing explaining the opposition. |
| Leung said the views of the people of Hong Kong had already been communicated to Beijing “very clearly.” | Leung said the views of the people of Hong Kong had already been communicated to Beijing “very clearly.” |
| Throughout the crisis, critics have accused Leung and his officials of sounding more like envoys for Beijing than representatives of the people of Hong Kong. | Throughout the crisis, critics have accused Leung and his officials of sounding more like envoys for Beijing than representatives of the people of Hong Kong. |
| “That is exactly the heart of the problem,” said Davis. “That is why people here want genuine democracy — not that they want to confront Beijing, but they want a government that represents Hong Kong’s interests to Beijing.” | “That is exactly the heart of the problem,” said Davis. “That is why people here want genuine democracy — not that they want to confront Beijing, but they want a government that represents Hong Kong’s interests to Beijing.” |
| Leung suggested that students focus their efforts not just on the 2017 elections, but also on lobbying for change in the electoral system in subsequent elections. | Leung suggested that students focus their efforts not just on the 2017 elections, but also on lobbying for change in the electoral system in subsequent elections. |
| “There are many years ahead for our young students,” added Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, the secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs. “In the fullness of time they should not just put all their focus on 2017. Maybe many of their aspirations can be addressed in future years as well.” | “There are many years ahead for our young students,” added Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, the secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs. “In the fullness of time they should not just put all their focus on 2017. Maybe many of their aspirations can be addressed in future years as well.” |
| Tensions between the two sides have ratcheted up in the past days. Police used pepper spray during clashes with demonstrators on Wednesday morning and arrested 45 of them. Outrage also rose after a video, that went viral on the Internet, appeared to show police leading a handcuffed protester around a dark corner, forcing him to the ground and repeatedly kicking him. | Tensions between the two sides have ratcheted up in the past days. Police used pepper spray during clashes with demonstrators on Wednesday morning and arrested 45 of them. Outrage also rose after a video, that went viral on the Internet, appeared to show police leading a handcuffed protester around a dark corner, forcing him to the ground and repeatedly kicking him. |
| Police said the seven officers involved in the incident had been suspended. | Police said the seven officers involved in the incident had been suspended. |
| This week, police have been clearing barricades from major roads around the protest sites in order to reduce traffic congestion in Asia's premiere financial center. Protesters have responded by trying to erect new ones. | This week, police have been clearing barricades from major roads around the protest sites in order to reduce traffic congestion in Asia's premiere financial center. Protesters have responded by trying to erect new ones. |
| Scuffles broke out again early Thursday, with two more people arrested and further use of pepper spray by police. | Scuffles broke out again early Thursday, with two more people arrested and further use of pepper spray by police. |
| The mass demonstrations, which have clogged highways and encircled government buildings, are the biggest challenge to China’s authority over the former British colony of Hong Kong since it took control in 1997. | The mass demonstrations, which have clogged highways and encircled government buildings, are the biggest challenge to China’s authority over the former British colony of Hong Kong since it took control in 1997. |
| Leung said efforts to clear more streets and “restore order” would continue — even while any talks take place. | Leung said efforts to clear more streets and “restore order” would continue — even while any talks take place. |
| Meanwhile, in an overlay of business and unrest, China’s biggest exporter of umbrellas — a symbol of the protests — has filed for an initial public offering in Hong Kong as it seeks to build a new factory and expand its output, the Reuters news agency reported. | Meanwhile, in an overlay of business and unrest, China’s biggest exporter of umbrellas — a symbol of the protests — has filed for an initial public offering in Hong Kong as it seeks to build a new factory and expand its output, the Reuters news agency reported. |
| The pro-democracy protest has been dubbed the “umbrella revolution” after demonstrators used them as shields against pepper spray. Jicheng Umbrella Holdings didn’t disclose the size of the planned deal. | The pro-democracy protest has been dubbed the “umbrella revolution” after demonstrators used them as shields against pepper spray. Jicheng Umbrella Holdings didn’t disclose the size of the planned deal. |
| Daniela Deane contributed to this report from London. Kris Cheng Lok-chit contributed from Hong Kong. | Daniela Deane contributed to this report from London. Kris Cheng Lok-chit contributed from Hong Kong. |