The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Thursday urged China to ensure Hong Kong's universal suffrage in all respects, not just granting the right to vote but the right to run in the elections as well.

The committee, which oversees compliance to an international political and civil rights treaty, expressed concern at China's decision to vet candidates for Hong Kong's 2017 election.

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The panel does not support the vetting of candidates, said French member Christine Chanet, stressing the need for China's cooperation to resolve the matter.

The committee maintains that equal and universal suffrage calls for both the right to vote and the right to be elected, Konstantine Vardzelashvilia reiterated during the session's closing remarks.

The 18-member panel also followed up on a March 2013 inquiry for additional details on candidate selection methods for the Hong Kong chief executive and legislative council in accordance with universal suffrage and the Covenant.

The Covenant, more formally known as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, was implemented by the UN General Assembly in 1996. It guarantees the exercise of civil and political rights, including the right to free elections.

While the Covenant was signed by China in 1998, it was never ratified.

Beijing responded to the UN inquiry and explained that the Hong Kong government is pursuing potential avenues in a bid to reach an accord with the community, thereby ensuring the implementation of universal suffrage in the 2017 elections.

The panel acknowledged Beijing's reply but it seems they were not appeased.

Based on China's response, it appears nothing has been done to execute the panel's recommendations, said Netherlands committee member Cornelis Flinterman.

Hong Kong authorities and pro-democracy advocates have been deadlocked for more than three weeks now as protesters stubbornly remain on the streets and continue to voice their outrage at the central government's plans to restrict electoral reform by allowing only China-approved candidates to run in the 2017 elections.

TagsUN, hong kong protests, pro-democracy protest, China-HK, HK protests, occupy central, 2017 election, universal suffrage