Protesters block Hong Kong building access, plan new action

Protesters fearing an erosion of Hong Kong's legal autonomy blocked access to a government office building for nearly two hours Monday and plan more demonstrations to draw the attention of leaders attending the G-20 summit this week.

About 100 demonstrators jammed the entryway and lobby of the Inland Revenue Tower, a skyscraper in the Wan Chai district in the city center.

Earlier, one of the main protest groups announced a demonstration planned on Wednesday to try to draw the attention of world leaders attending the Group of 20 summit in Japan.

The leaders of the Civil Human Rights Front said they hope the world leaders meeting in Osaka will hear the protesters' concerns over the weakening of the city's legal autonomy by mainland China.

Hundreds of thousands of people have filled the streets and sidewalks in recent weeks to oppose legislation seen as increasing Beijing's control and police treatment of the protesters.

The activists spoke on Monday near the city government headquarters, where a few protesters remained though the offices in the building had reopened.

Kelvin Ho, one of the group's several leaders, said the protest was meant to "urge the international community to give stress on Beijing that we need democracy."
At a briefing in Beijing, Zhang Jun, an assistant foreign minister, said
"I can tell you that for sure the G-20 will not discuss the issue of Hong Kong and we will not allow the G-20 to discuss the issue of Hong Kong."
"This is not about a power struggle. This is about the values that make the world a better place, such as the rule of law."