China voices regret over Hong Kong electoral plan defeat
By Associated Press
Jun 18, 2015 3:01 AM CDT

BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday expressed regret over the defeat of Hong Kong's controversial Beijing-backed electoral plans, saying the result of the vote was something it was "unwilling to see."

However, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang reiterated Beijing's support for the proposals, saying it remained the best hope for the semi-autonomous Chinese territory's continued prosperity.

"That the chief executive of the Special Administrative Region's government should not be elected as such in 2017 is a result we are unwilling to see," Lu told reporters at a regularly scheduled news briefing on Thursday.

Since Hong Kong was a part of China, the reforms were a domestic matter with no other countries permitted to intervene, Lu said.

Following a lengthy debate, 28 lawmakers voted against the proposals, which had sparked huge street protests in the southern Chinese city last year. Eight others voted in favor.

The proposals would have allowed Hong Kong residents to vote directly for the chief executive in 2017, but only after candidates had been vetted and approved by Beijing. Opponents said that fell short of Beijing's pledge of true universal suffrage.