Hong Kong's government on
Tuesday began dialogue with students demanding democratic
elections in the former British colony as protests entered their
fourth week.
Thousands of people followed the talks live on maxi screens
set up by demonstrators on Hong Kong island and the Kowloon
peninsula.
"A lot of people have been waiting a long time for this
conversation," said Alex Chow, secretary-general of the Hong
Kong Federation of Students.
"People feel that society is in crisis and that they have
to go out and fight," he added.
Hong Kong's second highest ranking civil servant, Carrie
Lam, told student representatives she acknowledged the
legitimacy of the protests but recalled that demonstrations
should remain within the law.
Last Thursday Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying
said he was open to discuss the composition of the committee
responsible for vetting candidates eligible to stand
in Hong Kong's 2017 elections, but added that China would not
retract its decision to screen candidates through the committee.
It was this decision that sparked the street protests four
weeks ago.
And in an interview published in the international media on
Tuesday Leung said democracy in Hong Kong was "not possible" as
it would "put the poor in positions of command".
The chief executive is not taking part in the talks.
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