Initial reaction to talks between students and officials negative

Protesters and other members of the public gave a thumbs down to yesterday's televised two-hour talks between top officials and student leaders.

Some dismissed as a cosmetic compromise the government's plan to submit a report to the State Council on the impasse over the August ruling by the National People's Congress Standing Committee on Hong Kong's electoral reforms.

Protesters watched live broadcasts of the meeting at various protest sites, and shouted "boo" when they disagreed with what officials said.

Accountant David Yeung said the government proposal for another report was only a compromise gesture. "Protesters are demanding the NPC Standing Committee reverse its decision, but the government is directing their demands to an executive body," he said.

Protester Deborah Li, 24, a freelance video editor, said she felt "hopeless and disappointed". "The officials kept saying we need to listen to Beijing. They were not answering our demands," she said.

In Mong Kok, Academy for Performing Arts student Sunny Chu, 25, was less critical. "At least there will be some further communication between the central government and Hong Kong," he said.

In Admiralty, computer technician Jack Lo, 40, wondered if Beijing would take the report seriously.