Democracy battle: Beijing set to dismay Hong Kong

Hong Kong's simmering summer of discontent gets even hotter Sunday when Beijing is expected to recommend restricting the first direct elections for the Chinese-controlled financial hub's leader, stepping up chances of a showdown with democracy groups. The former British colony, which was handed back to China in 1997, has been the scene of escalating tension for the past year after activists threatened a mass sit-in paralyzing the financial district if Beijing rules out genuine democratic reforms. While both sides agree that residents should be allowed to elect the territory's leader, known as the chief executive, starting in 2017, they're deadlocked over how to choose candidates. The pro-democracy contingent wants the public to be able to nominate people freely, but communist leaders in Beijing refuse, insisting that an elite body must vet candidates who above all must be patriotic to China. That resembles the current system to pick the leader using a 1,200-member panel stacked with mostly pro-Beijing elites, according to AP.