Hong Kong arrests democracy activists for November protests

Hong Kong police seized nine democracy advocates on Thursday, April 27, for participating in a protest last November.

The day before police charged two disqualified politicians for a separate protest.

The nine demonstrated outside the office of the Chinese Communist Party representative.

The two politicians tried to enter a meeting of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council.

Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997 with the agreement of “one country, two systems.” Hong Kong was supposed to retain self-rule.

Democracy advocates see the Chinese Communist Party sinking its fingers ever deeper into Hong Kong’s affairs.

China chooses all candidates for Hong Kong’s chief executive, and those candidates are ”elected” by a handpicked, Pro-Beijing panel.

While China tries to increase control, pro-democracy groups have begun talking of independence.

Hong Kong had been a flourishing financial center for centuries, under British rule. China wants to maintain the cash flow, while also maintaining tight control.

Those efforts can backfire badly, as shown by 2014’s widespread pro-democracy demonstrations.