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| Hong Kong Government Scraps Talks With Protesters | |
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| HONG KONG — The standoff between Hong Kong’s government and pro-democracy protesters intensified Thursday as the democrats demanded that the city’s top official be impeached over a multimillion-dollar payment from an Australian company and the government pulled out of talks with the protesters. | HONG KONG — The standoff between Hong Kong’s government and pro-democracy protesters intensified Thursday as the democrats demanded that the city’s top official be impeached over a multimillion-dollar payment from an Australian company and the government pulled out of talks with the protesters. |
| The talks, which were to have begun Friday, were the only active avenue for resolving a dispute that has led to sit-in demonstrations that have closed roads and disrupted life for nearly two weeks in Asia’s most important financial center. | The talks, which were to have begun Friday, were the only active avenue for resolving a dispute that has led to sit-in demonstrations that have closed roads and disrupted life for nearly two weeks in Asia’s most important financial center. |
| The cancellation of the talks came after an afternoon news conference by the protest groups and their political allies in which they vowed to continue the protests and start a new phase of civil disobedience to maintain pressure on the government. | The cancellation of the talks came after an afternoon news conference by the protest groups and their political allies in which they vowed to continue the protests and start a new phase of civil disobedience to maintain pressure on the government. |
| Hours later, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s second-ranking official, said the talks were dead. | Hours later, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s second-ranking official, said the talks were dead. |
| “I did look forward to a constructive dialogue with the student representatives,” she said. “However, with much regret, based on the public remarks made by the student representatives over these two days, especially this afternoon, I realized that the basis for a constructive dialogue between us and the students has been seriously undermined.” | |
| She said she hoped talks could still happen later, but declined to predict when or to set any conditions for a resumption. | She said she hoped talks could still happen later, but declined to predict when or to set any conditions for a resumption. |
| While it was unclear whether the talks ever had any chance of success, given the wide gulf between the positions of the students and the government, the cancellation, just two days after the government had agreed to participate, was the latest in a string of policy reversals by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s government as it has grappled with a response to the protest. | While it was unclear whether the talks ever had any chance of success, given the wide gulf between the positions of the students and the government, the cancellation, just two days after the government had agreed to participate, was the latest in a string of policy reversals by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s government as it has grappled with a response to the protest. |
| Mr. Leung himself came under increasing pressure on Thursday as democratic lawmakers demanded an independent investigation into whether he was guilty of bribery and official misconduct for accepting $6.4 million from an Australian engineering company and failing to disclose it. | Mr. Leung himself came under increasing pressure on Thursday as democratic lawmakers demanded an independent investigation into whether he was guilty of bribery and official misconduct for accepting $6.4 million from an Australian engineering company and failing to disclose it. |
| The protesters had already been demanding Mr. Leung’s resignation over his backing of China’s plan to have nominees for his post vetted by a committee loyal to Beijing. That plan set off the protests two weeks ago. | The protesters had already been demanding Mr. Leung’s resignation over his backing of China’s plan to have nominees for his post vetted by a committee loyal to Beijing. That plan set off the protests two weeks ago. |
| The payments, first reported Wednesday in The Sydney Morning Herald, were made as part of the sale of a company, DTZ Holdings, a global property consulting company for which Mr. Leung served as Asia Pacific chairman. The company is now owned by the Australian company, UGL. | The payments, first reported Wednesday in The Sydney Morning Herald, were made as part of the sale of a company, DTZ Holdings, a global property consulting company for which Mr. Leung served as Asia Pacific chairman. The company is now owned by the Australian company, UGL. |
| Alan Leong, leader of the Civic Party, said in an afternoon news conference that pro-democracy lawmakers would try to impeach Mr. Leung in the city legislature. | Alan Leong, leader of the Civic Party, said in an afternoon news conference that pro-democracy lawmakers would try to impeach Mr. Leung in the city legislature. |
| Albert Ho, a lawyer and former leader of the Democratic Party, told reporters Thursday there was a “strong prima facie case against” Mr. Leung on charges including breach of bribery laws and misconduct in public office. The Democratic Party called on the city’s anticorruption agency to investigate. | Albert Ho, a lawyer and former leader of the Democratic Party, told reporters Thursday there was a “strong prima facie case against” Mr. Leung on charges including breach of bribery laws and misconduct in public office. The Democratic Party called on the city’s anticorruption agency to investigate. |
| Mr. Leung denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement to the Australian newspaper that the payment was agreed on before he was elected and that there was “no requirement under our current systems of declaration” for him to make the payments public. | Mr. Leung denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement to the Australian newspaper that the payment was agreed on before he was elected and that there was “no requirement under our current systems of declaration” for him to make the payments public. |
| A second statement issued by his office described the payments as part of “a standard non-poach, noncompete arrangement.” | A second statement issued by his office described the payments as part of “a standard non-poach, noncompete arrangement.” |
| The agreement was signed in 2011, before he took office, but the payments were made over two years while he was serving as chief executive. | The agreement was signed in 2011, before he took office, but the payments were made over two years while he was serving as chief executive. |
| On Thursday evening, the city’s justice secretary, Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, appointed a prosecutor, Keith Yeung, to consider whether or not to take legal action against Mr. Leung and others, “should it eventually become necessary to do so,” according to a statement from a Justice Department spokesman. | On Thursday evening, the city’s justice secretary, Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, appointed a prosecutor, Keith Yeung, to consider whether or not to take legal action against Mr. Leung and others, “should it eventually become necessary to do so,” according to a statement from a Justice Department spokesman. |
| The statement said Mr. Yeung had “no connection with the people involved” in the matter. | The statement said Mr. Yeung had “no connection with the people involved” in the matter. |
| Tensions were already rising earlier in the day when the main protest group, Occupy Central, and two allied student groups, vowed to continue their protests, whose numbers have dwindled in recent days. The protest leaders promised a new phase of civil disobedience, but were not specific about what that would be. | Tensions were already rising earlier in the day when the main protest group, Occupy Central, and two allied student groups, vowed to continue their protests, whose numbers have dwindled in recent days. The protest leaders promised a new phase of civil disobedience, but were not specific about what that would be. |
| Mr. Leong, the Civic Party chairman, spoke at the news conference on behalf of a coalition of pro-democracy parties, saying they would use their numbers on the finance committee and two of its subcommittees to block all government spending bills except “very urgent, noncontroversial, livelihood policies that require an immediate financial provision.” | Mr. Leong, the Civic Party chairman, spoke at the news conference on behalf of a coalition of pro-democracy parties, saying they would use their numbers on the finance committee and two of its subcommittees to block all government spending bills except “very urgent, noncontroversial, livelihood policies that require an immediate financial provision.” |
| The pro-democracy parties comprise a minority in the legislature but could delay government action on many issues, although Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, gives considerable powers over spending directly to the executive branch. | The pro-democracy parties comprise a minority in the legislature but could delay government action on many issues, although Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, gives considerable powers over spending directly to the executive branch. |
| The talks were to have focused on the main issue driving the protest, the election of Hong Kong’s chief executive. In August, China’s legislature issued guidelines requiring a nominations committee to vet candidates for the post. Critics say the committee will be stacked with Beijing loyalists, as a similar committee is now, and will screen out any candidates not to the Communist Party’s liking. | The talks were to have focused on the main issue driving the protest, the election of Hong Kong’s chief executive. In August, China’s legislature issued guidelines requiring a nominations committee to vet candidates for the post. Critics say the committee will be stacked with Beijing loyalists, as a similar committee is now, and will screen out any candidates not to the Communist Party’s liking. |
| The protesters have demanded open nominations, with voters choosing the candidates. | The protesters have demanded open nominations, with voters choosing the candidates. |
| The current government, allied with Beijing, has rejected the idea of open nominations, saying that proposal violates Hong Kong’s Basic Law, as well as the guidelines set by China’s legislature. | The current government, allied with Beijing, has rejected the idea of open nominations, saying that proposal violates Hong Kong’s Basic Law, as well as the guidelines set by China’s legislature. |
| The government’s embrace of those guidelines set off the protests, which drew tens of thousands of people into the streets and presented the greatest challenge yet to China’s authority here. Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to China in 1997, but has retained many freedoms unavailable on the mainland under an arrangement known as “one country, two systems.” | The government’s embrace of those guidelines set off the protests, which drew tens of thousands of people into the streets and presented the greatest challenge yet to China’s authority here. Hong Kong, a former British colony, was returned to China in 1997, but has retained many freedoms unavailable on the mainland under an arrangement known as “one country, two systems.” |
| But the protest, which has complicated commutes and hurt businesses in the occupied areas, has waned and recently appeared to have been losing popular support. | But the protest, which has complicated commutes and hurt businesses in the occupied areas, has waned and recently appeared to have been losing popular support. |
| On Wednesday the Hong Kong Bar Association, which had criticized the government’s earlier decision to use tear gas and pepper spray on the protesters, said that the demonstrations were harming many people and that acts of civil disobedience did not shield them from criminal liability. | On Wednesday the Hong Kong Bar Association, which had criticized the government’s earlier decision to use tear gas and pepper spray on the protesters, said that the demonstrations were harming many people and that acts of civil disobedience did not shield them from criminal liability. |
| The Bar Association said in a statement that it was “essential for participants to respect the rights and freedoms of other people who do not necessarily agree with their views and not to cause excessive damage or inconvenience.” | The Bar Association said in a statement that it was “essential for participants to respect the rights and freedoms of other people who do not necessarily agree with their views and not to cause excessive damage or inconvenience.” |
| “They should also be ready to accept the criminal consequences of their conduct,” the statement said. | “They should also be ready to accept the criminal consequences of their conduct,” the statement said. |
| The dwindling support for the protesters may have been a factor in the government’s decision to renege on talks. | The dwindling support for the protesters may have been a factor in the government’s decision to renege on talks. |
| Until Tuesday, the government had steadfastly refused to speak with the protesters, calling their actions illegal. Hard-liners in the administration contended that negotiations would not only be fruitless, but would raise the public’s expectations for a resolution. | Until Tuesday, the government had steadfastly refused to speak with the protesters, calling their actions illegal. Hard-liners in the administration contended that negotiations would not only be fruitless, but would raise the public’s expectations for a resolution. |
| But Mr. Leung decided last week that negotiations were the best strategy, siding with advisers who maintained that discussions offered the best chance of quietly persuading protesters to go home. Preliminary discussions — talks about talks — began, which led to an agreement on Tuesday to begin negotiations on Friday. | But Mr. Leung decided last week that negotiations were the best strategy, siding with advisers who maintained that discussions offered the best chance of quietly persuading protesters to go home. Preliminary discussions — talks about talks — began, which led to an agreement on Tuesday to begin negotiations on Friday. |
| In the past week, the number of protesters on the streets has dwindled considerably, reducing pressure on the government to hold talks. At the same time, Ms. Lam said that hopes had risen unrealistically among many residents that talks would resolve the dispute. | In the past week, the number of protesters on the streets has dwindled considerably, reducing pressure on the government to hold talks. At the same time, Ms. Lam said that hopes had risen unrealistically among many residents that talks would resolve the dispute. |
| “We believe that the community as a whole will pin a lot of expectations on such a dialogue, because they are already fed up,” she said. “We hope to arrive at a better basis for conducting a dialogue with student representatives.” | “We believe that the community as a whole will pin a lot of expectations on such a dialogue, because they are already fed up,” she said. “We hope to arrive at a better basis for conducting a dialogue with student representatives.” |
| The decision continued a pattern of shifts and parries by the government in response to the crisis. In the past two weeks, the government sent in riot police with tear gas and pepper spray, then pulled them back; refused to talk to the protesters as a matter of principle, then called for talks; disclosed a plan to wait out the protests, then appeared ill-prepared as the protesters were attacked by violent gangs. | The decision continued a pattern of shifts and parries by the government in response to the crisis. In the past two weeks, the government sent in riot police with tear gas and pepper spray, then pulled them back; refused to talk to the protesters as a matter of principle, then called for talks; disclosed a plan to wait out the protests, then appeared ill-prepared as the protesters were attacked by violent gangs. |
| In the latest twist, the government, which had denounced the occupation of public roads as illegal, has let the barricades stand even as protesters have virtually abandoned them, fearing their removal could further inflame the protests. | In the latest twist, the government, which had denounced the occupation of public roads as illegal, has let the barricades stand even as protesters have virtually abandoned them, fearing their removal could further inflame the protests. |
| On Thursday night, the students seized the public-relations opportunity the government handed it. | On Thursday night, the students seized the public-relations opportunity the government handed it. |
| Saying he was disappointed by the government’s decision to cancel the talks, Alex Chow, leader of the Federation of Students, said the students were ready to open them whenever the government was. | Saying he was disappointed by the government’s decision to cancel the talks, Alex Chow, leader of the Federation of Students, said the students were ready to open them whenever the government was. |
| “Our door to dialogue with the government has never closed,” he said. “If the government is willing to talk, we ask that Carrie Lam reopen the dialogues tomorrow.” |