News Digest

Hong Kong protesters march after fruitless talks with government

Hong Kong protesters plan to march to the home of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Wednesday to push their case for greater democracy, a day after talks between student leaders and senior officials failed to break the deadlock. Expectations had been low for a breakthrough in Tuesday evening’s televised talks, which were cordial and pitted five of the city’s most senior officials against five tenacious but poised student leaders n black T-shirts. Protesters were unhappy about what they felt was a lack of substantive concessions from government officials and they dug in their heels.

I think it is time to seriously consider escalating the movement, such as expanding our occupation to many more places to pressure the government to really face and answer our demands.

Andy Lau, a 19-year-old college student

The officials offered the prospect of discussions about how a nominating committee that will pick candidates for city leader is formed, and said they would send a report to Beijing on the situation and the protesters’ demands. A wide chasm separates the protesters and the government, which has labelled their actions illegal and repeatedly said their demand for open nominations was impossible. The end-game for the protests remains unclear. Hong Kong’s high court issued injunctions this week barring protesters from blocking roads, but the police appeared unwilling or incapable of carrying them out.