Zhang: Central govt has capacity to subdue HK unrest

The representatives include Hong Kong lawmakers, deputies to the National People's Congress - the nation's top legislature- and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference - the country's top policy advisory body.

Besides a two-hour session in the morning, group discussions are also expected to be held in the afternoon.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong's member of the NPC Standing Committee, said the conclave was aimed to make Hong Kong society better understand the central government's stance on the current situation in the Special Administartive Region.

He called on protesters to stop violence for the sake of society's long-term stability.

Zhang said it is a routine practice to organize such meetings to strengthen communication with different sectors of the Hong Kong society and hear their views and opinions for better policy-making.

The last time that such a symposium was held was in August 2014, before the illegal "Occupy Central" movement.