The government will continue to abide by the rules of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's chief executive Leung Chun Ying reiterated on Sunday amid renewed pro-democracy protesters after talks between the city government and student leaders fell through.

The city government withdrew from negotiations with the Hong Kong Federation of Students on Thursday after the latter vowed to persist with its campaign until its demand for electoral reform was met.

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One such demand was the abolishment of a resolution passed by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the China Daily relayed.

The administration has decided to forgo talks with the students at this time because so far, their demands have been unclear and inconsistent with their expectations, Leung said during an interview on Sunday.

The Hong Kong government has expressed willingness to sit down and discuss the student activists' concerns, the main goal for which is to arrive at a negotiated solution that would lead to the implementation of universal suffrage in the 2017 elections, he said.

But if to do that the administration will have to abandon Basic Law principles and dismiss decisions made by the NPCSC, then that will never happen, Leung added.

As the pro-democracy protests rage on its third week, local police called on demonstrators to reduce the occupied areas as thousands of protesters continued to block major thoroughfares and causing businesses to close down.

Authorities have warned the activists not to thwart police from removing the barricades.

On Sunday, 160 bus routes were suspended or rerouted while businesses in Hong Kong's downtown areas suffer as profits decline.

Leung also urged the protesters to reflect on the unlawful assemblies and disobedience campaigns.

Although the government understands their need to fight for their democratic aspirations, the needs and rights of others shouldn't be sacrificed, he said.

Leung added that the use of necessary force to clear Hong Kong's streets would be a last resort as the government did not want anyone, most especially young students, get hurt.

TagsHong Kong's universal suffrage, Hong Kong Federation of Students, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, pro-democracy protests