Govt open to more talks after fruitless 1st dialogue

Hong Kong

HONG Kong's government said that it hopes to have more talks with democracy protest leaders following the first formal negotiations on Tuesday between officials and student leaders. But, as had been widely expected, there was no breakthrough.

Student leaders have yet to decide whether or not to hold a second round. "Today's dialogue will hopefully be the first of several rounds of dialogue," Chief Secretary Carrie Lam told a press conference after a two-hour meeting with student leaders who have spearheaded more than three weeks of rallies that have caused disruption in the city. She called the talks "constructive" but said that the government's firm position is to follow China's insistence that candidates for the city's next leadership election must be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee. "If the students cannot accept this position, I am afraid we will continue to have different views."