Democracy News

Hong Kong lawmakers arrested over democracy protests

Hong Kong - Three Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers were arrested and then released Monday over their involvement in mass protests for free elections, the latest targets of a police probe campaigners say is tantamount to intimidation.

Thousands march for democracy in Hong Kong

Hong Kong - Thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong Sunday for the first time since mass demonstrations shut down parts of the city for more than two months.

Crisis-hit Venezuela bars ex-presidents from talks with opposition

Caracas - Venezuela, which has accused a pair of Latin American ex-presidents of trying to spark a coup, on Sunday denied them permission to speak to jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.

Hong Kong Occupy protest leaders arrested

Hong Kong - The original founders of Hong Kong's pro-democracy Occupy movement were arrested and released Saturday as the city's police chief defended the investigation into mass protests, saying it was not "a show".

Hong Kong financiers challenge China in newspaper advert

Hong Kong - A group of pro-democracy financiers in Hong Kong took out an advert in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday challenging China to respect the city's autonomy and introduce free elections.

Hong Kong media tycoon arrested over pro-democracy protests

Hong Kong - Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper tycoon Jimmy Lai was arrested and released by police Wednesday after turning himself in, the latest figure targeted in a broadening investigation which protest leaders describe as harassment.

Disillusioned Hong Kongers press UK for escape route

Hong Kong - With Hong Kong increasingly polarised on political reforms and fears growing over the influence of Beijing, frustrated residents are pressing former colonial power Britain to offer them an escape route.

Hong Kong student leaders arrested, released without charge

Hong Kong - Hong Kong student leaders including the teenage face of the pro-democracy movement, Joshua Wong, were arrested Friday on charges relating to mass protests as authorities target prominent figures who spearheaded the rallies.

Hong Kong student leader Wong slams authorities in court

Hong Kong - The teenage face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, 18-year-old Joshua Wong, slammed the authorities Thursday in a court appearance linked to mass protests which brought parts of the city to a standstill for months.

Hong Kong police arrest democracy protestors after clash

Hong Kong - Hong Kong police said on Thursday they had arrested a dozen pro-democracy protesters after a night of clashes in the first sizeable rally since the last protest camp was cleared last week.

Xi warns Hong Kong and Macau in 'one China' message

Macau - Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Hong Kong and Macau on Saturday to remember they are part of "one China", as pro-democracy campaigners in both semi-autonomous territories call for free leadership elections.

Hong Kong leader declares Occupy protest 'over' as last site cleared

Hong Kong - Hong Kong's leader declared an end to more than 11 weeks of sit-in protests by pro-democracy demonstrators after police cleared the last remaining camp and arrested a handful of peaceful protesters Monday.

Hong Kong left deeply polarised by protests: Analysts

Hong Kong - The demolition of the main protest camp ended a pro-democracy occupation that paralysed Hong Kong for two months, but the campaign has left the city deeply divided both politically and socially, analysts say.

Hong Kong 'business as usual' as activists vow to fight on

Hong Kong - Rush-hour traffic streamed through the heart of Hong Kong for the first time in more than two months Friday after police cleared the city's main pro-democracy protest camp with mass arrests -- but activists vowed that their struggle would go on.

Hong Kong police arrest protesters, dismantle main rally site

Hong Kong - Hong Kong police dismantled the city's main pro-democracy protest site Thursday, clearing tents and barricades after more than two months of rallies and arresting more than 200 demonstrators, who vowed their struggle lives on.

Hong Kong protesters brace for police swoop

Hong Kong - Hundreds of protesters braced for a police swoop on Hong Kong's main pro-democracy site early Thursday, to end more than two months of rallies calling for free leadership elections.

Hong Kong protest leaders will 'stay to end' as police swoop looms

Hong Kong - Hong Kong's student protest leaders said Wednesday that they would "stay to the end" as police prepared to swoop on the city's main rally site after more than two months of mass pro-democracy demonstrations.

Police prepare to clear Hong Kong protest sites

Hong Kong - The clearance of Hong Kong's main pro-democracy protest camp will begin Thursday when bailiffs move in, authorities said, but some demonstrators vowed to stand their ground after more than two months of rallies.

Second Vietnam blogger arrested on anti-state charges

Hanoi - Vietnamese police arrested a prominent blogger Saturday, the second writer seized in the last fortnight as the country's communist authorities keep up their long-running crackdown on online dissent.

Hong Kong student leader Joshua Wong calls off hunger strike

Hong Kong - Joshua Wong, the teenage face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, said Saturday he has ended a four-day hunger strike designed to force the government into further talks on political reform.

Hong Kong protest leader says block government, not roads

Hong Kong - A founder of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement branded the occupation of the city's main roads as "high-risk" Friday, urging protesters to turn to new methods of civil disobedience to push for electoral reform.

Hong Kong student leaders consider protest retreat

Hong Kong - Hong Kong's student leaders said Thursday they would decide in the coming days whether to leave protest sites they have occupied for more than two months, following violent clashes.

US calls for 'competitive' Hong Kong polls

Hong Kong - The United States Wednesday gave its strongest backing yet to protestors in Hong Kong calling for "competitive" 2017 elections, but came under fire for muting its support for fear of angering China.

Hong Kong Occupy protest leaders turn themselves in to police

Hong Kong - The founders of Hong Kong's pro-democracy Occupy movement surrendered to police Wednesday in a symbolic move, as they try to take the protests off the streets after more than two months of rallies punctuated by violence.

Hong Kong protest founders to 'surrender', urge students to retreat

Hong Kong - The original founders of Hong Kong's pro-democracy Occupy movement tearfully announced Tuesday they would "surrender" by turning themselves in to police and urged protesters on the streets to retreat.

Hong Kong students on hunger strike want government to talk

Hong Kong - Hong Kong student leaders on hunger strike said on Tuesday they want to force the government into further talks as the pro-democracy movement finds itself in crisis following violent clashes with police.

Hong Kong protesters on hunger strike after violent clashes

Hong Kong - Joshua Wong, the teenage face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, and two other student demonstrators went on hunger strike Monday, raising the stakes after one of the worst nights of violence to hit the demonstrations.

Hong Kong leader says protests 'in vain' after violent clashes

Hong Kong - Hong Kong's leader said Monday that pro-democracy protests were "in vain" after police used pepper spray and batons on students trying to storm government headquarters, in some of the worst violence since the rallies began.

Hong Kong police clash with protesters outside govt HQ

Hong Kong - Hundreds of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters faced off against police early Monday in a fresh escalation of tensions, with officers firing pepper spray at angry students trying to surround the government headquarters.

Hong Kong police reopen main road after clearing protest camp

Hong Kong - Hundreds of Hong Kong police Wednesday cleared a pro-democracy protest camp, arresting Joshua Wong and another student leader and reopening a main road blocked for almost two months.