From Reuters:
Thousands of Hong Kong residents appealed to China on New Year’s Day to allow full democracy to be introduced soon in the city, as opposition lawmakers pressed forward with a mass resignation plan later this month.
Congregating outside the city’s historic domed legislature, protesters carried colorful banners with slogans such as “Democracy Now!” and made their way to Beijing’s representative office.
Some demonstrators held aloft portraits of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, demanding the release of the prominent activist and writer, jailed last week for 11 years on a subversion charge.