Organisers of Hong Kong's democracy protests have cancelled a vote on the next step in their month-long street occupation.

The leaders of the demonstration said they had not properly consulted the public before calling the referendum on Friday.

The spot referendum was supposed to have asked protesters about counter-proposals to a proposition from the Hong Kong government following last week's talks between the student leaders and authorities.

Hong Kong officials had offered to submit a report to the central government noting the protesters' unhappiness with a Beijing decision to have an appointed committee screen candidates for the city's leadership in the inaugural 2017 election.

The protesters want open nomination and universal suffrage in the elections for the semi-autonomous Chinese region.

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