Hk Protesters Say Talks May Yield Little

Talks set for Tuesday between Hong Kong's government and pro-democracy students are unlikely to result in an immediate end to the protests, a student representative said.



"We don't rule out the possibility that the talks will break down after the first round," Yvonne Leung, one of the five student representatives at the talks, told The Anadolu Agency. 



She said the first round of talks "will be both sides demonstrating their basic stances."



Representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Students will meet government officials for two hours Tuesday in a session hosted by Lingnan University's Vice-Chancellor Leonard Cheng, a former adviser to Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.



Responding to criticism that he might not be an impartial moderator, Cheng said he would not express his personal opinions, the Apple Daily newspaper reported Monday.



Cheng said he hoped the two sides could build trust and continue their dialogue beyond Tuesday.



The government said the talks will be broadcast live but there will be no public audience.



Almost seven out of ten protesters are "pessimistic" or "very pessimistic" the government would make concessions, the Ming Pao newspaper reported Monday. Around five percent of 285 people polled Thursday and Friday said they were optimistic.



The protests, which have gone on for more than three weeks, are calling for the 2017 chief executive elections to be free from interference from Beijing.



Demonstrators have occupied roads in what is seen as the biggest challenge to China's grip over the former British colony since 1997.



In a television interview Sunday, Hong Kong's chief executive said "external forces" were involved in the protests without giving further details.



"There is obviously participation by people and organizations from outside of Hong Kong, in politics in Hong Kong, over a long time. And this is not the only time when they do it," he told television station ATV.



The chief executive also said no one could control the movement.



"It's gone out of control even for the people who started it, for people who planned it, for people who scripted it… which is a major concern."



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara