People listen to talks between student leaders and senior government officials being broadcasted live. (Agence France-Presse)
Hong Kong's government said it hopes to have more talks with democracy protest leaders following the first formal negotiations on Tuesday between officials and student leaders.
"Today's dialogue will hopefully be the first of several rounds of dialogue," Carrie Lam told a press conference after a two-hour meeting with student leaders who have spearheaded more than three weeks of rallies that have caused disruption in the city.
But Ms Lam, who called the talks "constructive", said the government's firm position is to follow China's insistence that candidates for the city's next leadership election must be vetted by a pro-Beijing committee.
"If the students cannot accept this position, I am afraid we will continue to have different views," she said.