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Hong Kong officials meet student protesters for talks Hong Kong officials meet student protesters for talks
(about 3 hours later)
Hong Kong government officials and student leaders have begun talks to try to resolve the political impasse that sparked pro-democracy street protests, now in their fourth week. Hong Kong officials have ended their first round of talks with students, with the government's chief negotiator saying she hoped for further meetings with protest leaders.
Students at the talks want the public to have an unrestricted choice of candidates in the election for the territory's chief executive in 2017. Students at the talks reiterated their demand for an unrestricted choice of candidates in the election for the territory's chief executive in 2017.
But both Hong Kong and Beijing officials have said this is impossible.But both Hong Kong and Beijing officials have said this is impossible.
Protests have blocked key parts of the city, although numbers have fallen.Protests have blocked key parts of the city, although numbers have fallen.
The BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says that although demonstrators know the chances of getting what they want are almost zero, they are staying on the streets to show authorities that the struggle for democratic reform is a long-term fight.The BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says that although demonstrators know the chances of getting what they want are almost zero, they are staying on the streets to show authorities that the struggle for democratic reform is a long-term fight.
'Numbers game''Numbers game'
The government team is being led by the city's most senior civil servant, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, and the students are represented by five leaders. The government's negotiation team was led by the city's most senior civil servant, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, and the students were represented by five leaders.
Meetings have been called off twice in recent weeks.Meetings have been called off twice in recent weeks.
The talks, which began at 18:00 local time (11:00 BST), will focus on the students' demands that China reconsiders its ruling on how candidates for elections will be chosen. The talks, which began at 18:00 local time (11:00 BST), focused on the students' demands that China reconsiders its ruling on how candidates for elections will be chosen.
The meeting comes a day after Chief Executive CY Leung reiterated his objections to the demands, saying they would result in populist policies. Student leaders reiterated their position that they want Hong Kong leadership elections to be more democratic - a demand rejected by Ms Lam.
"As far as their position is concerned I'm afraid we can only agree to disagree," she said.
Alex Chow, secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said the government's stance was "vague".
"We would say that the government needs to further explain it in front of the public," he added.
The meeting came a day after Chief Executive CY Leung repeated his objections to the protesters' demands, saying they would result in populist policies.
"If it's entirely a numbers game and numeric representation, then obviously you would be talking to half of the people in Hong Kong who earn less than $1,800 (£1,110) a month," he told reporters."If it's entirely a numbers game and numeric representation, then obviously you would be talking to half of the people in Hong Kong who earn less than $1,800 (£1,110) a month," he told reporters.
"Then you would end up with that kind of politics and policies.""Then you would end up with that kind of politics and policies."
Mr Leung said problems such as the lack of social mobility and unaffordable housing were "not acceptable", and the government needed to do more to solve them.Mr Leung said problems such as the lack of social mobility and unaffordable housing were "not acceptable", and the government needed to do more to solve them.
But he argued that Beijing's position, under which candidates will be screened by a "broadly representative" nominating committee before they go to an open election, was better.But he argued that Beijing's position, under which candidates will be screened by a "broadly representative" nominating committee before they go to an open election, was better.
He pointed to the fact that his own appointment in 2012 had to be endorsed by a 1,200-member committee which was made up of people from various sectors of society and professions.He pointed to the fact that his own appointment in 2012 had to be endorsed by a 1,200-member committee which was made up of people from various sectors of society and professions.
Mr Leung said the make-up of the nomination committee might offer room for negotiation. "There could be a compromise, somewhere in between, by making the nomination committee more acceptable to these students," he said. Mr Leung said the make-up of the nomination committee might offer room for negotiation.
Hong Kong democracy timelineHong Kong democracy timeline
Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversyQ&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy
The protests drew tens of thousands to the streets at their peak, in a major challenge to Beijing's rule. A few hundred activists still remain entrenched at Mong Kok, Admiralty and Causeway Bay.The protests drew tens of thousands to the streets at their peak, in a major challenge to Beijing's rule. A few hundred activists still remain entrenched at Mong Kok, Admiralty and Causeway Bay.
On Monday police warned demonstrators to stay away from one of the protest sites, in Mong Kok, saying it was on the verge of "turning into a riot".On Monday police warned demonstrators to stay away from one of the protest sites, in Mong Kok, saying it was on the verge of "turning into a riot".
Protesters have disputed this and say it is still peaceful.Protesters have disputed this and say it is still peaceful.
The High Court also granted an injunction to local business owners ordering protesters in Mong Kok and Admiralty to leave. Authorities have already said several times that the protests are illegal.
Are you in Hong Kong? Are you taking part in protests? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Hong Kong? Are you taking part in protests? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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