HK activists fight back China vote decision

Hong Kong activists launched their fightback Monday against Beijing’s landmark decision to limit voting reforms, heckling a senior Chinese official in angry scenes after hopes for full democracy were crushed.

Li Fei, a member of the top committee of China’s rubber- stamp Parliament, was forced to speak over the cries of pro- democracy legislators and protesters during a meeting with local officials in the semiautonomous Chinese city.

Brief scuffles erupted outside the venue as the police used pepper spray to stop protesters from storming the hall, where Mr Li told delegates that China will not tolerate a local leader who is disloyal to the mainland. “Anyone who does not love the country, love Hong Kong or is confrontational towards the central government shall not be the chief executive,” he said. His visit comes a day after democracy activists vowed an “era of civil disobedience” including mass sit- ins at the international business hub’s financial district in response to Beijing’s decision to grant only limited reforms in the former British colony. Democrat legislators said Monday they would sink Beijing’s proposal when it comes before the city’s legislature early in 2015. The proposal needs to win two- thirds support in the 70- seat legislature to pass.