It 's a decision thousands of protesters feared . China 's powerful National People 's Congress Standing Committee voted Sunday to change the way Hong Kong picks its chief executive , ruling that only candidates approved by a nominating committee will be allowed to run . A top Chinese official made clear the candidates all must `` love the country and love Hong Kong . '' The city 's current leader insists it 's a step in the right direction . `` The majority of Hong Kong citizens , namely , the 5 million qualified voters of the selection of chief executive in 2017 , will be able to cast their votes to select the chief executive , '' said Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying . Speaking at an event Monday to explain the NPC 's decision , he added : `` This is the first opportunity -- a very good opportunity -- for Hong Kong to have one man , one vote -- universal suffrage . This is something we should all feel proud of . '' But that 's not how Hong Kong 's pro-democracy Occupy Central movement sees it . The group has vocally pushed for elections in which any candidate can run for chief executive . For weeks , protesters have taken to the streets . In a statement on its website , the group slammed Beijing 's decision as a move that stifles democracy and blocks people with different political views from running for office . `` Genuine universal suffrage includes both the rights to elect and to be elected , '' the statement said . `` The decision of the NPC Standing Committee has deprived people with different political views of the right to run for election and be elected by imposing unreasonable restrictions , thereby perpetuating 'handpicked politics . ' '' Scores of people -- including pro-Beijing groups and pro-democracy supporters -- gathered at the city 's AsiaWorld-Expo Monday where the city 's decision-makers were meeting . Local media reported chaotic scenes at the conference center as pan-democrats attempted to disrupt an address by Li Fei , deputy secretary general of the NPC Standing Committee . Freedoms eroded . Under the `` one country , two systems '' policy , the 7 million residents of Hong Kong -- defined as a `` Special Administrative Region '' of China -- are afforded greater civil liberties than those in the mainland . This reflects an agreement reached between China and the United Kingdom before the handover , which promised Hong Kong a `` high degree of autonomy '' for 50 years after its return . But the decision to change the way Hong Kong picks its leader comes amid increasing fears that those freedoms are being eroded . Currently , Hong Kong 's leader is chosen by an election committee selected mostly by Beijing loyalists . Beijing brushed aside demonstrators ' demands for a fully open election in 2017 , saying the decision to change the system is in line with Hong Kong 's basic law . Protesters demands are self-serving , one top official said . `` Those people 's so-called international standards are tailored for themselves , '' said Li Fei , deputy secretary general of the National People 's Congress Standing Committee . `` They are not the international standards , but their personal standards . '' Civil disobedience . Throngs of pro-democracy protesters rallied in central Hong Kong on Sunday to condemn Beijing 's decision and promised there would be more protests . The threat of civil disobedience `` is our bargaining power , '' Benny Tai , the organizer of Occupy Central , told CNN earlier this month . `` They take us seriously , though they will never admit that . '' After a massive rally calling for democracy in the Chinese territory in July , hundreds of demonstrators -- including prominent lawmakers -- were arrested . Tens of thousands of demonstrators protesting Occupy Central marched in Hong Kong earlier this month . Local media swirled with reports of marchers getting paid or bused in to attend the pro-government march . The march 's organizer said he took the accusations seriously and would investigate but maintained that no laws were broken . 'Paper tiger ' But a commentary published Monday by the state-controlled Global Times dismissed this opposition and suggested Hong Kong 's political reforms had come to a `` foregone conclusion . '' `` The radical opposition camp is doomed to be a paper tiger in front of Hong Kong 's mainstream public opinion and the firm resolution of the central government , '' it said . `` These radicals could indeed incite a group of people to rally with them but they are facing a powerful will and a strong legal framework that Hong Kong must remain stable . They will definitely be called to account if they resort to illegal confrontation . And if they raise objections in a legal way , their efforts will end in vain . '' Meanwhile , Fernando Chui Sai-on has been re-elected uncontested as Macau 's chief executive . Like nearby Hong Kong , Macau is a `` Special Administrative Region '' of China , following its transition from Portuguese control in 1999 . The territory has itself faced calls for greater democracy , though its constitution makes no mention of universal suffrage . A recent unofficial poll on this question was shut down by police and several pro-democracy organizers were arrested for allegedly breaching privacy laws .
Beijing says only candidates approved by a nominating panel can run to lead Hong Kong . The city 's current leader insists it 's a step in the right direction . Comment: Protesters take to the streets in Hong Kong and vow more civil disobedience .