Student leaders 'open' to talks with govt

Leaders of the student protesters surrounding Hong Kong's government headquarters said they are open to talks to resolve an impasse that has paralysed much of the city centre this week.

If Carrie Lam, the city's No. 2 official, is willing to negotiate, "we'll accept it," Yvonne Leung, a leader at the Hong Kong Federation of Students, said in an interview. Chief Secretary Lam and the city's leader Leung Chun-ying later called a press briefing at 11.30 pm.

The talk invitation follows on attempts on Wednesday by a government councilor to mediate, signaling that both sides may be seeking to head off an escalation after tens of thousands of mostly young people rallied on the city's streets to demand democracy and Leung's resignation. Hong Kong police this afternoon said they won't tolerate attempts by protesters to surround or invade public buildings, as a tense standoff persisted by barricades outside the road leading to Leung's office.

In an open letter posted on the student group's Facebook, the federation said the only agenda for discussion would be political change. The students also reiterated their demands for public nomination of candidates for election, and said Leung had lost the public trust.