NewStudents’ trip to Beijing ‘unnecessary’, says Chief Secretary Carrie Lam

There is no need for student leaders of the Occupy Central movement to take their democracy demands to Beijing on Saturday, according to Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

The central government is well aware of the different opinion of Hongkongers and has made decisions accordingly, Lam said on Saturday morning.

The Federation of Students representatives were planning to go to the capital in an attempt to meet state leaders to express their demands for genuine universal suffrage. However, Lam said the demand had already been reflected in a report submitted to Beijing by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

“The report pointed out with faith that there are different opinions about the nomination process of the chief executive. That included civil nomination proposed by the Federation of Students,” she said.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress made its decision about Hong Kong’s 2017 chief executive election on August 31 after a comprehensive review, Lam said.

“If the Federation of Students is going to express such views, it seems [their trip] isn’t a big necessity,” she added.