Hong Kong university talks between student leaders and government officials have failed to resolve the ongoing political standoff after weeks of protests. The pro-democracy demonstrations have paralyzed parts of the semi-autonomous Chinese city for over three weeks.
After the talks with the university student leaders Tuesday night, The Wall Street Journal reported Hong Kong's government offered to submit an official report to Beijing that mirrors the views of the protesters. However, the government stuck to its line that it wouldn't ask China's leadership to withdraw its plan to enforce limits on the city's election system.
According to The Los Angeles Times, the two-hour talks brought together five university student representatives and Hong Kong government officials. The students were members of the Hong Kong Federation of Students led by 23-year-old Alex Chow.
The Hong Kong university talks were held with no audience present although the dialogue was broadcasted live to crowds at protest sites.
"Hong Kong's young people have already made lots of sacrifices, including their time and risking arrest and their futures," Hong Kong Federation of Students Deputy Secretary-General Lester Shum stated. "We only have a small wish-democracy....How can you ask us to leave the streets and accept the current election method?"
Pro-democracy protesters have blamed the Hong Kong government's failure to substantially express society's views to China for the absence of democratic development in the city. Meanwhile, the university student leaders stood firm to their demand that Hong Kong's chief executive should be publicly elected in 2017.
No further meetings have been scheduled though student leaders said they would assemble Wednesday to decide on their next steps.
On the other hand, the heads of Hong Kong's biggest universities have called for further talks between student leaders and the government, as pro-democracy demonstrations continue to crowd the city's streets for the fourth straight week.
"I think both sides have expressed their sincerity," Chinese University Vice Chancellor Joseph Sung Jao-Yiu said of Tuesday's dialogue between student leaders and the government. "The students were very mature and well-prepared. But we won't hope that the first dialogue can solve all the problems."
As per South China Morning Post, Hong Kong University Vice Chancellor Peter Mathieson also said both sides had been very well-mannered during the talks and had put forward very sensible arguments.
"I'm disappointed that there hasn't been more resolution of the situation," Mathieson stated. "But I hope, as the dialogue has already started, it would be the beginning of the progress that everyone wants to see."
He also added that students should not stop being idealistic because it is one of the best things about being young.
The moderator of the Hong Kong University talks, Lingnam University President Leonard Cheng Kwok-Hon said further dialogue would increase the probabilities of a resolution. University of Science and Technology President Tony Chan Fan-Cheong also expressed hope more dialogues would follow.
Meanwhile, in a statement released late Tuesday, Hong Kong government said they were disappointed by the university student leaders' comments on a lack of substantive government response. The government said the officials had meaningful and sincere talks with the student representatives during the dialogue and gave positive responses.
Although neither side has displayed a public willingness to compromise, the Tuesday night's talks between university student leaders and Hong Kong government officials were considered as a significant step to ease the political standoff in the city.
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