Hong Kong students fine-tune plan to take democracy call to Beijing

The plan signals a shift in the focus of the protests in the former British colony away from the Hong Kong government which has said it has limited room for manoeuvre. But China is highly unlikely to allow any known pro-democracy activists into Beijing, especially if the trip coincides with this weekend’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum there. ‘I think one of the ways we can solve this problem is to go to Beijing personally and have a direct dialogue with Beijing officials on this matter since the (Hong Kong) government claims that all decisions have to be passed up to the NPC,’ Alex Chow, leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS), said last week, referring to China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress.

The protesters blocked key roads leading into three of Hong Kong’s most economically and politically important districts for weeks. The campaign drew over 100,000 at its peak and hundreds remain camped out at the main protest site in the Admiralty district, home to government offices and next to the main financial district. The HKFS has not said whether its planned trip was to coincide with APEC, which would mean, if allowed, it would take place in front of an audience of  leaders. Another student leader, Nathan Law, said details would be revealed on Thursday.