Arrests in China for support of Hong Kong democracy

HONG KONG, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Authorities in mainland China have arrested dozens supportive of Hong Kong's pro-democracy demonstrations.

Protesters in the city of Hong Kong have been allowed to rally without arrests, but at least 50 people have been arrested or gone missing on the mainland. Arrests have been made for "picking quarrels and provoking troubles," including the arrest of prominent scholar and activist Guo Yushan.

Ten were arrested in Beijing at a pro-Hong Kong democracy poetry reading.

Whatever the immediate reasons are, I think their detentions are an utter red flag for China's human rights," said Maya Wang of the international activist organization Human Rights Watch.

The demonstrations, and the arrests, center around Beijing's involvement in Hong Kong's 2017 city elections, demanding the list of candidates be vetted and approved by China's central government. Opponents say the move is a violation of the "one China, two systems" policy guaranteed Hong Kong when it was returned to China in 1999.

Hong Kong's leader, Leung Chun-ying, said Sunday, in an interview broadcast on Hong Kong's TVB News, there was "zero chance" of a change in China's decision, adding he would not step down from his executive position as demonstrators have demanded.

"I believe my stepping down will not solve the problem since they are demanding the National People's Congress to withdraw its decision and for civil nomination, which is impossible."