HK opposition demands 'may hurt dialogue'

BEIJING - Hong Kong's former legislative council president has criticized some local political groups for asking the central government to make promises beyond its power.

Rita Fan, also a National People's Congress (NPC) deputy from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), said the move may set hurdles in the way of establishing a dialogue between the central government and the opposition party in Hong Kong.

Five lawmakers from two opposition parties resigned last month, hoping to declare the vote in the ensuing by-elections as a "referendum" on the question of moving ahead the timetable set by the NPC Standing Committee for universal suffrage in Hong Kong.