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Ernest Kao

Lai Ying-kit

The Chairman of the Basic Law Committee, Li Fei, arrived at his Wan Chai hotel late last night to a chorus of jeers from hundreds of protesters.
As Li's convoy of two white buses and multiple SUVs pulled into the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Harbour Road, they were met by a sea of demonstrators giving them the thumbs down.
The group, led by student activist group Scholarism, switched on their mobile phone flashlights and held them aloft as a symbol of their disatisfaction.
Chants of "shame" rang out and Li was berated for refusing to speak to reporters or protesters, as metal barricades and throngs of police kept the sides apart.
Watch: Scholarism protest against NPC decision outside of Beijing official Li Fei's hotel

The activists were also angered by the actions of police and hotel security guards who, earlier in the day, had gone to two rooms booked by some of the student protesters, and dragged them from the hotel.
Three activists, who were held briefly by police before being freed, later told reporters that they had been refused the right to protest.
"I asked the guards if they meant I had no right to be here as a guest. They said "yes" and carried me out by my arms and legs out into the protest zone [outside the lobby]," said Scholarism member Derek Lam Shun-hin.
"Then they said I wasn't allowed to be in the protest zone any more and dragged me out [of the hotel grounds]."

He said officers had not used excessive force but that he had still felt pain.
Fellow Scholarism member William Liu was also removed from the hotel premises, while another was asked to leave. Liu said the group had checked in to rooms on the 17th floor of the hotel on Sunday afternoon.
The plan was to meet Li at the hotel's entrance and chant "civic nomination is requisite", he said.
The group criticised hotel management for mistreating guests.
Scholarism said on Monday that the three activists had been allowed to go back to the rooms around 1pm to collect their personal belongings after negotiating with the police and hotel.
The group were given a full refund for their room fees, but criticised the five-star hotel for barring them from questioning Li on political reform issues.
“We hope the police and the hotel will respect citizens’ right to demonstrate,” Scholarism said in a statement. “We hope they will not rudely remove citizens and bar peaceful demonstration again."
Demonstrators said up to 1,000 people had turned out for the protest outside the Grand Hyatt on Sunday night, following the Occupy Central rally at Tamar Park. Police did not provide an estimate.
Li is today due to attend a joint forum on the NPC's decision at AsiaWorld-Expo. Further protests are expected to take place outside.


Reform protesters confront Li Fei as Scholarism activists evicted from hotel

Members of Scholarism await the arrival of Li Fei outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Wan Chai. Photo: SCMP

Li Fei, vice secretary-general of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, answers questions on the selection of Hong Kong's next chief executive. Photo: Xinhua

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.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Update | Reform protesters confront Li Fei as Scholarism activists evicted from hotel

Update | Reform protesters confront Li Fei as Scholarism activists evicted from hotel