Hong Kong authorities say Chinese officials have confirmed the whereabouts of the chief editor of a publisher specializing in books banned in mainland China three weeks after he went missing and have requested a meeting with him.

Hong Kong's government unveiled election reform proposals Wednesday allowing residents to vote for the city's leader for the first time, but they face stiff resistance from pro-democracy lawmakers and activists because the candidates will be selected by a pro-Beijing panel.

Tension spiked at democracy protests that have gripped Hong Kong for nearly two months as police arrested four men early Wednesday after a small group of activists tried to force their way into the city's legislature in overnight clashes.

Hundreds of Hong Kong police officers, many of them in riot gear and wielding pepper spray, have moved in to clear pro-democracy protesters out of a tunnel outside of government headquarters.