HK govt to resume talks with Occupy students next week

The Hong Kong government of China hopes to have formal talks with representatives of the students participating in Occupy movement next week, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced here Thursday.

Leung told a press briefing that the government will hold talks with all circles including representatives of the Federation of Students, one of the major organizers of Occupy movement, to push ahead with the work of constitutional development of Hong Kong.

Leung said the government hopes to discuss universal suffrage with the students and start the dialog as early as the following week.

He suggested that the formal talks could be presided over by presidents of universities in Hong Kong.

However, the preconditions for the discussions such as the amendment of the Basic Law and civil nomination for the election of the next chief executive would be unpractical, he added.

He also reiterated that it is impossible for the National People's Congress Standing Committee to withdraw its decision on Hong Kong's constitutional development.

The dialogue between the government and students, previously scheduled for Oct 10, was canceled by the government last Thursday when Chief Secretary Carrie Lam said the basis for a constructive dialogue had been undermined.

(Updated)