Eight protesters detained in Beijing by armed police claimed last night that China had compiled a blacklist of pro-democracy supporters.
The group, including five Legislative Councillors, flew to Beijing to hand a 60,000-name petition opposing the establishment of the provisional legislature to senior Chinese officials.
But soon after the plane touched down, 15 uniformed and plain-clothes security officials were on board checking all passengers against a lengthy list of names.
The group, members of the United Front Against the Provisional Legislature, were questioned for two hours and had their home visit permits confiscated before being forced to return to Hong Kong.
On their arrival at Kai Tak last night, where they were given a heroic welcome by supporters, the group accused Beijing of compiling a blacklist of local activists.
A spokesman for the group, Andrew Cheng Kar-foo, said: 'The gongan [public security officers] were holding a list, which we regard as a blacklist, to identify us.