The Occupy Central movement will tear Hong Hong's community apart and severely affect the city's economy and livelihood, Hong Kong's former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa said here Friday, calling on protesters to end the protest.
Tung, who is also vice-chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a press conference held in the former chief executive's official mansion, Xinhua reported.
Tung expressed concern over the harm caused by the nearly month-long protests over constitutional development.
"The occupation is approaching one month and now it's time to end it," he said, adding that he was worried the civil disobedience movement was "a little bit out of control."
"In civilised societies, conflicts are resolved through dialogue, not in streets. Students should not use the occupation as bargaining chips for negotiation with the government," Tung said.
Tung said he understood the students' demands for democracy, however, the idea of civil nomination, which violates the Basic Law and the decision made by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, cannot be put into practice.
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"I hope students are willing to listen to this old man. Time to go home," he said, adding they should accept a longer timeline for electoral reforms.
Speaking of the harm caused by the protest, Tung said both bookings at local hotels and credit-card spending had plunged by 20 to 30 percent in recent weeks.
He expected companies to hold back decisions on pay rises and hiring due to the uncertainty arising from the movement, further dampening hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong people's livelihood.
"The negative impact of the Occupy Central will go beyond our imagination," he said.
Under Hong Kong's Basic Law and the decision of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature of the country, more than five million qualified Hong Kong voters could have a say in who will become the chief executive in 2017 but they will be able to vote directly for one of two or three vetted candidates previously selected by a special commission.
Tung said the debate on constitutional development in Hong Kong needed rational and pragmatic discussions rather than passion and idealism, and the universal suffrage for the chief executive election in 2017 was not the end but the beginning of the constitutional development.
He added the rule of law was the cornerstone of Hong Kong's success. "We cannot violate the rule of law while pursuing democracy."
Moreover, Tung said the protests had adversely affected the relationship between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, while Hong Kong's prosperity cannot be achieved without the back of the central government.
He said rebuilding the trust between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland should be a task of top priority, urging all the citizens to shoulder their responsibility.
Hong Kong government officials held the first formal talks Tuesday with students who have been participating in the Occupy Central movement since Sep 28.
Tung said he was glad the two sides started the talks and hoped the dialogue would continue.