Juliana Liu, BBC News, Hong Kong
Hong Kong's political future will be decided, in large part, at this week's parliamentary meeting in Beijing.
Benny Tai, founder of the Occupy Central movement, told a gathering of pro-democracy activists at the weekend that an overly strict framework for electoral reform is likely to trigger protests and, ultimately, occupation of the main business district in Hong Kong.
Chinese lawmakers are expected to announce their decision on Sunday.
An analysis piece in the overseas edition of the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, suggests the Chinese government will not budge from its bottom line.
Officials have previously stated that the next chief executive must be a patriot and must not oppose the central government.
Pro-democracy activists have said these requirements are not consistent with accepted international standards of universal suffrage.