China won't budge on Hong Kong poll decision, plenum statement shows

The Communist Party's key meeting ended yesterday with a pledge to guarantee implementation of "one country, two systems" and maintain the long-term prosperity of Hong Kong in accordance with law.

Analysts said it suggested Beijing was unlikely to yield on its decision over Hong Kong's political reform.

The remarks came with protests against Beijing's restrictive framework for the 2017 election for the city's chief executive well into their fourth week.

Academics said the remarks were in line with Beijing's stance on Hong Kong's political development - that electoral reform must be carried out within the framework of the Basic Law.

"It is not common for Beijing to elaborate on the 'one country, two systems' policy from the perspective of law," Shenzhen University law Professor Ye Haibo said.

"It shows that Beijing wants to reiterate the importance of handling the relationship between the central government and Hong Kong and the city's political reforms in accordance with law - both the Basic Law and the decisions by the National People's Congress Standing Committee."