HK leader takes hard line on public vote

HONG KONG: Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying took a hard line on political reform in his annual address on Wednesday, saying there would be no deviation from Beijing's policy on elections, as pro-democracy lawmakers staged a dramatic walkout.

In his first speech to Hong Kong's legislature since huge street rallies calling for free leadership elections, Leung made no concessions to protesters and questioned their "understanding" of the intricacies of politics in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.