A group of Hong Kong activists on Thursday demanded that Japan immediately end its lease of three disputed islands in the East China Sea and burned a paper Japanese flag to show their outrage.
"Japan, Get Out of Diaoyu Islands!" chanted some 15 protesters as they set the paper flag alight outside the building where the Japanese Consulate General is located.
The protesters said they were angry that Japan, as reported by a major Japanese daily on Wednesday, has tried to strengthen its control over what it calls the Senkaku Islands by concluding a contract to lease three of the five isles from a private owner.
The islands, known as Diaoyu in China and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan, are located between Taiwan and Okinawa. Japan, China and Taiwan all claim sovereignty over the uninhabited isles.