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 The students, led by Hong Kong Federation of Students' leader Alex
Chow, had planned to go to Beijing with the intention of meeting
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as efforts to reach agreement with
officials in Hong Kong had failed.
A Cathay Pacific spokesman told local media that Chinese authorities
had told the airline the students' travel permits were invalid. He
did not elaborate, though the representative of a student body did
comment.
"Cathay has confirmed that their (students') return home card has
been canceled by the mainland authorities, so they could not get the
required certificates to get on to the plane," Yvonne Leung, the
representative of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, told
reporters.
The student leaders left the airport shortly after.
 Protesters have occupied key areas of Hong Kong for more than six
weeks, camping out in some of the world's most expensive real estate
and paralyzing parts of the financial center to demand free
elections for the city's leader in 2017.
Local media had speculated that the students would be turned back
once they landed in Beijing. China has refused entry before to
activists who speak out against Beijing.
About 300 supporters, some with yellow umbrellas that have become a
symbol of the democracy movement, showed up at Hong Kong airport
where they were greeted by a media pack amid chaotic scenes.
Beijing has declared the protests illegal and said law and order
must be maintained in the Chinese-controlled city, where scenes of
police firing tear gas and violent clashes have grabbed global
headlines.
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China rules Hong Kong under a "one country, two systems" formula
that accords the city a degree of autonomy and freedom not enjoyed
in mainland China, with universal suffrage an eventual goal.
But Beijing said in August only candidates screened by a nominating
committee will be able to contest a city-wide vote to choose the
next leader in 2017, triggering widespread condemnation and
protests.
Local media have reported that authorities are preparing to start
clearing the key protest sites of Admiralty, which lies next to
government buildings, and across the harbor in the bustling, gritty
district of Mong Kok as early as Monday.
The protests drew well over 100,000 at their peak but that number
has now dwindled to hundreds.
The Hong Kong government has branded the movement's occupation of
streets illegal and has repeatedly said open nominations are not
allowed under the city's laws.
(Reporting by Denny Thomas and Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Simon
Cameron-Moore)
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