Brussels, 03/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - Concerned about events in Hong Kong (demonstrations demanding more political freedoms), the EU urged all parties to continue exercising the restraint they have shown. “We encourage all parties to work in a spirit of compromise for a constructive solution within the framework of the Basic Law and the principle of 'One Country - Two Systems', towards a fair electoral system which allows a high degree of political participation by the people of Hong Kong”, stated the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton in a press release.
On Thursday 2 October, the leaders of dissenting students, who represent the majority of the demonstrators, announced that they had agreed to discuss their demands with the government, while continuing to call for its resignation. The demonstrators also call for the withdrawal of a measure decided upon by the Chinese authorities, which reportedly allows them control over the candidacies for the 2017 election of the governor of Hong Kong - an election for which China plans to grant universal suffrage. (CG)