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Public divided ahead of first talks between HK gov't, students

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail CNTV, October 21, 2014
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The first talks between the Hong Kong SAR government and the student leaders of the Occupy Central protest are set to take place today. But already the city's residents are divided over what to expect. Some say this is a good start, while others are more pessimistic about whether it can solve the deadlock.

Amid controversies and expectations. For the first time since the Occupy Central movement began nearly one month ago, the Hong Kong SAR government and the student protesters will meet. It will be moderated by Cheng Kwok-hon, the president of Lingnan University, who was picked by the city's eight universities. Cheng pledged to remain impartial.

"I will not stop them unless they say things to attack others, or they violate the principles agreed before the meeting," Cheng said.

Carrie Lam, the SAR's chief secretary of administration, will lead the government delegation, while five members of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of the main groups behind the occupation, will represent the protesters.‍

The talks are scheduled to last two hours. However, the outcome is not guaranteed, according to Lau Nai Keung, a member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee, from the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

"The students want...which is impossible, they will not get any result," Lau said.

The stakes are high for these talks. Violent clashes have increased over the past few days, after police tried to ease traffic congestion in certain areas by removing protester barricades.

Many say it is no longer a peaceful demonstration. Some protesters have even been found carrying dangerous weapons.

"It is totally out of control, the question is whether you accept the Basic law," Lau said.

Lau says if the protesters do not accept the Basic Law, the talks will have nowhere to go. And public opinion is also turning against Occupy Central, with local residents saying the protest is not only disrupting their lives, but also illegal.

Around 2,000 people gathered in Victoria Park to voice their opposition to the Occupy Central movement.

There are still thousands of protesters camped out on the thoroughfares of HK. Some are positive that the meeting is a good start, while others say the two sides have fundamental differences, and a consensus will be hard to reach.

But while opinion is divided and results uncertain, analysts say that any dialogue is still better than no dialogue at all.

 

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