Hong Kong police stop four-person democracy protest on China’s National Day

A pro-democracy protester is surrounded by police officers (Vincent Yu/AP)

Police in Hong Kong have halted a four-person pro-democracy protest on China’s National Day amid an expanding crackdown on free speech and opposition politics.

Chanting and carrying a placard calling for the release of Hong Kongers arrested in the crackdown and chanting pro-democracy slogans, the four members of the opposition League of Social Democrats attempted to march to the harbour-side Convention Centre where the official celebration was being held.