Nineteen activists were reportedly arrested Monday night after demonstrating against officials' recent decision to censor the 2017 elections candidacy. Earlier, three demonstrators were arrested and charged with illegal assembly and police obstruction.

The altercation took place outside the hotel where National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Deputy General Secretary Li Fei was staying. An uproar started as the demonstrators tried to disrupt Li as he delivered a speech explaining the decision.

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Lester Shum, deputy secretary-general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, defended the crowd's reaction and said that they just wanted to express the resentment and humiliation the Hong Kong citizens were subjected upon. He added that without democracy, Hong Kong's youth would not be heard by the public and the government.

Despite the confrontation on the streets, Li continued and finished his speech, saying the government decision is mainly to secure Hong Kong's long-term stability, as well as to safeguard the rule of law.

The new ruling states that a "broadly representative" nominating committee will need to vote for any candidate for Hong Kong's next leader.

According to opposing groups, this committee will eventually be filled with pro-Beijing members. When this happens, it will be highly unlikely that any candidate from the opposition would land on the ballot in the 2017 elections.

Pro-democracy legislator Lee Chuoren voiced out his side saying that this will be a "fake election." He went on to say that 25 pan-democratic members of Hong Kong's legislature have already joined forces and will arouse the citizens to occupy Central in protest.

TagsHong Kong, Lester Shum, Li Fei, pro-democracy, occupy central