'There is no point in talks with Beijing', ex-Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa tells students
Former chief executive sidesteps request by students that he help arrange meeting with state leaders, saying their stance won't change
Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa has sidestepped a request by student organisers of the Occupy movement to meet state leaders, saying Beijing will not change the political reform framework for Hong Kong.
Tung's response came a day after a member of student activist group Scholarism on a personal trip to Shenzhen was denied entry to the mainland because he had taken part in activities that "violate national security".
Tung, a vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, had read an open letter delivered to him by the Federation of Students on Friday, asking him to arrange the meeting, his spokesman said.
"[Tung] thinks they are just repeating their views and stance in the letter, which won't help to break the impasse," the spokesman said. "Mr Tung points out that the central government understands the different views in Hong Kong. The decision of the National People's Congress Standing Committee on August 31 will not change."
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said Beijing officials had met pan-democratic lawmakers several times, and the students' demand for public nomination of candidates for 2017 had already been put across. Leung emphasised his own role in setting up a Shanghai trip for lawmakers to meet the officials in April.
The August decision laid down the framework for the city to elect its leader by "one person, one vote" for the first time in 2017. An election committee will have exclusive power to nominate candidates for the race.
Tung urged students to end the protests and go back to their studies.
