The reform plans sparked protests

Most papers in Hong Kong roundly criticise the blocking of reform plans by opposition pro-democracy legislators.

But while several editorials express regret at the move, one calls for talks on a timetable to introduce universal suffrage.

The outcome was regrettable, and history will certainly hold the opposition camp responsible for making Hong Kong's democratic development come to a standstill... The opposition camp opposes for sake of opposition, deliberately turning a blind eye to Hong Kong's long-term interests.

For Hong Kong citizens, the 'sky will not collapse, and the Earth will not stop' because the constitutional reform plan has been vetoed... On the contrary, if the constitutional reform plan had been passed, it would have been tantamount to basically accepting minor changes to an undemocratic electoral system, which would in fact be 'going backwards'.

We think that the opposition faction legislators who turned their back on public opinion and vetoed the constitutional reform plan have made Hong Kong's democratic reforms go backwards.

The 24 opposition faction legislators who cast opposing votes yesterday owe... an explanation to the citizens. They are the stumbling blocks and sinners who have hindered the development of Hong Kong's constitutional democratization.

Vetoing the constitutional reform plan proposed by the government was basically the right thing to do, and basically the only thing to do... Now that the plan has been vetoed, different political parties... no longer need to waste time studying how to carry out a plan which leads the citizens up the garden path and can focus their energy and strength on carrying out substantive talks on a universal suffrage timetable.

This was a result that the majority of citizens did not wish to see... It is a pity that the central government' sincerity was actually viewed as weak and easy to exploit by the pan-democrats, and they not only did not return to the right track, but had insatiable ambitions, asked for a sky-high price, and vainly attempted to use the trick of democracy to change the governing authorities in Hong Kong.

We think that the most urgent and important thing now is not to hold people responsible, but to make every effort to mend relations... and then to continue to push forward talks on the universal suffrage process.

Hong Kong's democratic progress has again encountered a setback ... the 'prestige' that the opposition faction has grabbed from vetoing the constitutional reforms will inevitably affect communication and mutual trust with the central government.

Hong Kong people are the most harmed by this, but relations between Hong Kong and the central government and relations between the administration and Legco [Legislative Council] will also suffer a setback.

Although most citizens support universal suffrage, they were also willing in practice to accept the plan proposed by the government. Although the prestige of the government will unavoidably suffer harm, public opinion is certainly not inclined towards the opposition faction.

An opportunity to make progress has been missed - and all concerned must shoulder their share of responsibility for this... Beijing is most unlikely to soften its stance and grant more concessions as a result of the vote. Indeed, there is every chance that the central government's position will harden. Passing the government's very limited package would have helped maintain the momentum for reform. Now, we must start again.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaus abroad.