Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has urged people in Hong Kong to solve what he called deep-rooted problems, a week after pro-democracy lawmakers in the city voted down controversial political reforms.
Mr. Wen said all groups in Hong Kong should focus on economic growth and social stability. He made the comments Wednesday after talks with Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang in Beijing.
Mr. Wen said Beijing will continue to support the democratic development of Hong Kong in a gradual manner, reiterating comments made by Chinese President Hu Jintao a day earlier.
Both Chinese leaders refrained from directly criticizing Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement for rejecting the Beijing-backed reforms.
That drew a positive reaction from some opposition lawmakers, who said they were hopeful Beijing would keep talking to them. Neither Mr. Wen nor Mr. Hu gave any indication of a timetable for full democracy in Hong Kong.
Information for this report is provided by AP and Reuters.
