In Hong Kong, three prominent pro-democracy activists were arrested earlier today ahead of a major planned protest on Saturday. Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow were arrested on suspicion of unlawful assembly and held for several hours before being released on bail. Shortly after his release, Wong addressed reporters.

Joshua Wong: “All we ask for is just to urge Beijing and the Hong Kong government to redraw the bill, stop police brutality and respond to our calls for a free election.”

A third prominent Hong Kong activist, Andy Chan, was also arrested today. He is accused of rioting and assaulting an officer. Meanwhile, Reuters has revealed that the Chinese central government rejected a proposal earlier this summer by Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, to defuse the protest movement. Lam proposed withdrawing a controversial extradition bill, but China ordered her not to yield to any of the protesters’ demands.