Hong Kong 'talks' to student protesters

(ANSA) - Beijing, October 21 - 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.