A protest mission to Beijing launched by the League of Social Democrats suffered a setback last night when veteran activist Lo Chau was led away by police at Beijing airport despite being allowed to take a flight to the capital from Shenzhen after crossing the border.
Mr Lo was released at about 9pm after being detained for almost three hours. He said he was not questioned or given an explanation for his detention.
He said he would write a letter and present it in a petition today to the NPC complaints office calling for universal suffrage in 2012.
He became the sole protester after three of his colleagues were turned away at the Lo Wu checkpoint.
'I hope the NPC Standing Committee will respect Hong Kong's hope for the introduction of universal suffrage by 2012. I will take the message to the NPC's complaint office,' Mr Lo said after arriving in Beijing.
Almost immediately after being greeted by the media, Mr Lo was led away by more than 30 uniformed and plainclothes public security officers.
He was not seen again before being freed.