Hong Kong Gov’t Calls Off Talks

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam of the Hong Kong government has called off the planned meeting Friday with student leaders of the pro-democracy protesters, declaring it would be “impossible to have a constructive dialogue.” The protesters have been asking for a completely free vote in elections due to be held in 2017 for the chief executive position. Now, whether or not the protests can be successful depends on whether they can ramp up again in the aftermath of the government’s noncompliance. While thousands marched last week, large amounts of the demonstrators have gone home this week.