16 October 2014 Last updated at 07:36 ET
Hong Kong’s government is ready for new talks with student protesters next week, its chief executive has said.
CY Leung was speaking after scuffles between protesters and police continued for a second night on a major road near government buildings.
He said officials had been negotiating with students via mediators this week.
The protests were sparked by a Chinese government ruling that limits who can stand as a candidate in Hong Kong’s leadership elections in 2017.
Rising tensions
The demonstrations are in their third week, with protesters occupying key parts of the city to try to pressure the authorities to implement greater political reforms, including fully free elections.
Thousands of people took to the streets at the beginning of the demonstrations but the numbers have dwindled in recent days.
“Over the last few days, including this morning through third parties, we expressed a wish to the students that we would like to start a dialogue to discuss universal suffrage as soon as we can and hopefully within the following week,” Mr Leung told reporters.
Police face off with protesters as they take over the streets with scuffles breaking out between police and protesters as tensions continue on 16 October 2014 in Hong Kong
Riot police have used pepper spray to clear protesters in recent days
He said that the authorities would continue to restore order in Hong Kong in accordance with its laws “as quickly as we can”, including the normalisation of traffic.
China will not retract its decision to vet candidates eligible to stand in Hong Kong’s 2017 elections, he added.
Chief Secretary Carrie Lam cancelled scheduled talks with student leaders last week, saying it was impossible to have constructive dialogue with them while they continued to occupy key areas of the city.
Investigation launched
Tensions between the two sides have escalated over the past two days, with serious clashes between police and protesters trying to re-occupy a main road near the chief executive’s offices.
Many demonstrators said they had returned to the area – an underpass on Lung Wo Road – after watching a video showing plainclothes police officers beating an unarmed protester, sparking public outrage.
Photo allegedly showing marks on Ken Tsang’s back
Ken Tsang’s lawyer says the beatings continued even after he was in police custody
But touching on the subject, Mr Leung told reporters on Thursday “we should not politicise this incident”.
The US has called for a swift, transparent and complete investigation into the incident.
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok earlier said there was “concern” over the video.
On Thursday police said that seven officers had been suspended pending an investigation into the alleged beatings.
