Pro-democracy lawmakers raised yellow umbrellas and walked out of a debate on political reforms in Hong Kong after the government insisted it would stick with a plan to allow only candidates approved by Beijing take part in elections for the city's top executive position in 2017.
The ruling from Beijing, which ruled out free elections for the Hong Kong chief executive position, sparked street protests late last year that lasted for more than two months and caused major disruption in the financial hub.
The 24 pan-democrat legislators raised their yellow umbrellas, a symbol of last year's Occupy Central protests, and walked out after the city's No 2 official, chief secretary Carrie Lam, made a speech in the legislative council.
Ms Lam said that the popular vote, even allowing for only Beijing loyalist candidates, was “an opportunity not to be missed” and “the only way to create a solid foundation for further democratisation”.
Facing arrest
Meanwhile, dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrators face arrest in the coming days as police in the territory draw up a list of organisers of the Occupy Central protests.
Chan Kin-man who, along with fellow academic Benny Tai and Rev Chu Yiu-ming, was one of the key organisers said he was "ready to be arrested in coming days". The trio turned themselves in last month. Others targeted by the police dragnet are Joshua Wong, the leader of the student democracy group Federation of Students and Scholarism, along with secretary general Alex Chow, Eason Chung and Lester Shum.
Media tycoon Jimmy Lai has also been asked to "help police with their enquiries", along with Democratic Party legislator Albert Ho, People Power legislator Raymond Chan and NeoDemocrat Gary Fan.
In all, more than 30 key figures face prosecution, the Hong Kong Standard newspaper reported. Chan Kin-man said that the "police should not presume" the estimated 1.2 million people who took part in last year's protests "would steer clear of the matter if they arrested only the leaders".
