A group of three pro-democracy student leaders from Hong Kong, protesting against Beijing's decision to vet candidates in 2017 elections, have been stopped from boarding a plane to Beijing, a report said.
The three demonstrators said that they wanted to meet China's leaders directly because the Hong Kong government has said that it is "powerless" to offer them any "concessions." However, they were told that their travel permits were invalid, reported the BBC.
The group was greeted at the airport by other protesters unfurling yellow umbrellas, a symbol of Hong Kong's democracy movement.
They were led by Alex Chow, head of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, which has played a key role in mobilising the demonstrations.
Protesters have occupied the streets of Hong Kong since late September to demand completely free elections.