This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-29471027

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hong Kong protests: Talks accepted amid protest stand-off Hong Kong protests: Talks accepted amid protest stand-off
(about 3 hours later)
Protesters blockading key parts of Hong Kong have accepted talks with the government, hours after Chief Executive CY Leung rejected calls to step down. Protesters in Hong Kong have accepted an offer of talks with the government after a week of unrest.
Mr Leung offered the talks late on Thursday, responding to a deadline. Chief Executive CY Leung Leung offered the talks with his deputy late on Thursday but rejected calls to resign.
Protesters have been occupying parts of the city for several days. They are angry at China's plan to vet candidates for elections in 2017. The protesters, angry at China's plan to vet election candidates, have been occupying parts of the city since the weekend, though numbers have fallen.
Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail".Beijing has thrown its full support behind Mr Leung, calling the protests illegal and "doomed to fail".
On Friday Hong Kong temporarily closed government offices in the main protest-hit area, saying staff should work from home because access roads to central offices were blocked. On Friday Hong Kong temporarily closed government offices in the main protest-hit area, saying staff should work from home because roads were blocked.
Protest numbers have been swelling at night and falling during the day. On Friday morning, smaller groups remained on the streets. Though the protests were significantly smaller on Friday, some groups remained on the streets. In a sign of tensions, there were some scuffles as police tried to keep protesters back from the buildings.
'Serious consequences' Saira Asher, BBC News, Hong Kong
Late on Thursday, shortly before a deadline set by protesters for his resignation, Mr Leung said his government would hold talks with student leaders. Protest leaders are meeting outside the government buildings in Admiralty, central Hong Kong to decide their next steps. But the numbers have dwindled early on Friday here at the main protest site and outside CY Leung's office.
Hong Kong's top civil servant, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, would open a dialogue as soon as possible, he said, without giving a time frame. The mood is a lot more subdued than on Thursday night when hundreds of protestors were pulling on masks and plastic covers and facing down the police.
"I will not resign because I have to continue with the work for elections," he said, adding that any attempts by protesters to occupy buildings would lead to "serious consequences". Many of the demonstrators have vowed to come back later but with no date set for the talks between Chief Secretary Carrie Lam and the protestors its unclear whether they can keep up the momentum.
Protesters - a mixture of students, supporters of the Occupy Central democracy movement and others - have been blockading three areas of Hong Kong, including the Central business district, since Sunday. 'Turning point'
They had threatened to seize buildings, but now say they will join the government talks.
The Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) said it would have a public meeting with Ms Lam, but insisted that Mr Leung should step down, saying he had "lost his integrity".The Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) said it would have a public meeting with Ms Lam, but insisted that Mr Leung should step down, saying he had "lost his integrity".
Occupy Central, meanwhile, issued a statement saying it hoped "the talks can provide a turning point in the current political stalemate". The Occupy Central movement issued a statement saying it hoped "the talks can provide a turning point in the current political stalemate". It also called for Mr Leung's resignation.
But it also called for Mr Leung's resignation, saying he was "the one responsible for the stalemate". But Benny Tai, co-founder of Occupy, also visited students outside government offices - who have reportedly attempted to block supplies from reaching the police - and urged them to show understanding.
'Sensible way' "Everyone loves Hong Kong and we all hope to have a peaceful and just society, and on this journey we must show inclusivity," he said, according to Apple Daily.
'Serious consequences'
The students had threatened to escalate their protests and occupy government buildings if Mr Leung did not resign by Thursday night.
But hours before the deadline, he said in a news briefing: "I will not resign because I have to continue with the work for elections." He warned that any attempts to occupy buildings would lead to "serious consequences".
At the heart of the row is how Hong Kong elects its next leader. In August, Beijing ruled that while Hong Kong residents would have a vote, their choice of candidates would be restricted by a committee.At the heart of the row is how Hong Kong elects its next leader. In August, Beijing ruled that while Hong Kong residents would have a vote, their choice of candidates would be restricted by a committee.
The protesters say this falls short of the free elections they are seeking.The protesters say this falls short of the free elections they are seeking.
These protests are being seen as a major challenge to Beijing's rule. Senior Chinese leaders have described them as illegal. The BBC's Celia Hatton in Beijing says China has taken a tough stance, saying there is absolutely no room for concessions.
Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, in its latest piece, said Beijing's ruling in August was "the necessary decision, and the only decision". Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, in its latest editorial, said Beijing's ruling in August was "the necessary decision, and the only decision", and that the protests were "doomed to fail".
Reports citing Hong Kong government sources suggest officials plan to wait the protesters out and hope their campaign loses steam, after witnessing how the police use of tear gas at the weekend brought more people out. Writing in the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's last British governor before the territory was handed back to China in 1997, Chris Patten, said that "open and honest" consultations were the way forward now.
Writing in the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's last British governor before the territory was handed back to China in 1997, Chris Patten, said that transparent consultations were the way forward now.
"Under the existing plans, there is supposed to be a second phase of consultations on democratic development to follow what turned out to be a counterfeit start to the process," he wrote.
"Hong Kong's government should now offer its people a proper second round of consultation, one that is open and honest.
"Dialogue is the only sensible way forward. Hong Kong's citizens are not irresponsible or unreasonable. A decent compromise that allows for elections that people can recognise as fair, not fixed, is surely available.""Dialogue is the only sensible way forward. Hong Kong's citizens are not irresponsible or unreasonable. A decent compromise that allows for elections that people can recognise as fair, not fixed, is surely available."
The US consul general to Hong Kong Clifford Hart said in a Facebook statement that "the common desire for Hong Kong's welfare provides an excellent basis for launching dialogue".
Hong Kong democracy timelineHong Kong democracy timeline
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversyQ&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy
Are you affected by the protests? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you affected by the protests? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.ukor text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions