The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) set a framework for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)’s electoral reform. China ruled out allowing open nominations in inaugural elections for Hong Kong’s leader, saying they would create a “chaotic society.”

Following the widely expected decision, pro-democracy supporters rallied in a park in front of Hong Kong government headquarters. Democracy activists said that a long-threatened mass occupation of the heart of the city will definitely happen.

The Chinese legislature’s powerful Standing Committee said all candidates should be approved by more than half of a special nominating body in order to go before voters. That’s at odds with demands from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp, which staged a massive protest in July to press for genuine democracy in the Chinese territory over fears candidates would continue to be screened to assess their loyalty to Beijing.

CCTV America’s Li Jiejun reports.

For more analysis of Hong Kong electoral reform, here is an interview with Wang Xuewen, the political analyst and former deputy chief of International Business Daily.

Article by an Associated Press report