Chinese officials deny Hong Kong's pro-democracy leaders entry to Beijing

Ongoing attempts "to voice the opinion of Hong Kong people," as student leader Alex Chow calls it, were dealt a further blow on Saturday, Time reports.

Chow, Eason Chung, and Nathan Law planned to take their demands for free, local elections to the mainland, but Chinese authorities instead revoked the men's return-home cards, barring them from boarding a Beijing-bound flight. The trio represents the Hong Kong Federation of Students, which, along with several other groups, is protesting the Chinese Communist Party's decision that all candidates for Hong Kong's chief executive position in 2017 must pass a vetting process. Pro-democracy protesters say those on the nominating committee are loyal to Beijing.

"Hong Kong people have been pursuing democracy and democratic reform for more than three decades," Chow said. "We are still on our way to restructure the concept of democracy."

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