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Hong Kong protesters scrap vote on government proposals | Hong Kong protesters scrap vote on government proposals |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Protesters in Hong Kong have abandoned plans to hold a ballot over whether to accept several government concessions. | |
Protest leaders said they decided to "adjourn" the vote after disagreements over its format and apologised for a "lack of discussion" with protesters. | |
The vote was to be held electronically and was cancelled just four hours before it was meant to start. | The vote was to be held electronically and was cancelled just four hours before it was meant to start. |
Tens of thousands of protesters have joined a sit-in calling for full democracy in Hong Kong since September. | Tens of thousands of protesters have joined a sit-in calling for full democracy in Hong Kong since September. |
On Tuesday, student protest leaders and government officials held talks for the first time, but made little progress towards ending the impasse. | On Tuesday, student protest leaders and government officials held talks for the first time, but made little progress towards ending the impasse. |
The government, represented by deputy leader Carrie Lam, offered to send a report to Chinese government officials reflecting the protesters' views, and set up a platform to facilitate dialogue on future constitutional changes. | The government, represented by deputy leader Carrie Lam, offered to send a report to Chinese government officials reflecting the protesters' views, and set up a platform to facilitate dialogue on future constitutional changes. |
'Hasty' poll decision | 'Hasty' poll decision |
Protest leaders initially rejected the government's offer before pledging on Friday to hold the now-cancelled vote. | Protest leaders initially rejected the government's offer before pledging on Friday to hold the now-cancelled vote. |
"We feel we have been conducting the vote hastily," said Benny Tai, one of the founders of the Occupy Central protest group, | "We feel we have been conducting the vote hastily," said Benny Tai, one of the founders of the Occupy Central protest group, |
"We decided to adjourn the vote at the square but it doesn't mean the movement has stopped," he told AFP. | "We decided to adjourn the vote at the square but it doesn't mean the movement has stopped," he told AFP. |
In a statement, Occupy Central said: "We apologise to the public for the lack of discussion among the participants before making the previous decision." | |
Though numbers have fallen significantly since the early days of the protests, a hard core of demonstrators - mostly students - have said they will not give up their occupation of central areas until China changes its mind on the rules for Hong Kong's 2017 election. | Though numbers have fallen significantly since the early days of the protests, a hard core of demonstrators - mostly students - have said they will not give up their occupation of central areas until China changes its mind on the rules for Hong Kong's 2017 election. |
They also want Chief Executive CY Leung to stand down. | They also want Chief Executive CY Leung to stand down. |
The Chinese government has ruled that candidates for the chief executive election must be vetted by a nominating committee dominated by pro-Beijing groups. The protesters say they should be allowed a wholly free choice of candidate. | The Chinese government has ruled that candidates for the chief executive election must be vetted by a nominating committee dominated by pro-Beijing groups. The protesters say they should be allowed a wholly free choice of candidate. |
Chinese and Hong Kong leaders say the street protest is illegal. | Chinese and Hong Kong leaders say the street protest is illegal. |
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