Chinese Authorities Seize Thousands Of Toilet Rolls Featuring Hong Kong Leader Leung Chun-Ying's Photo

Authorities in China have seized thousands of rolls of toilet paper -- emblazoned with the face of Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying -- which had been ordered by a political party in the city.

The tissues were seized from a factory on Friday. Lo Kin-hei, a vice-chairman of the Democratic Party, told the BBC that about $12,900 worth of goods had been confiscated, with no reason given. The seized property included 7,600 toilet rolls and 20,000 packets of tissues.

Leung is unpopular with Hong Kong's population and was not elected by a popular vote. He was appointed by an election committee, which is widely seen as being stacked with members loyal to the central government in Beijing.

Kelvin Lai King-wai, head of the party's creative media division, told the South China Morning Post that the party had placed the order for the merchandise under the name of a person who was not a member of the party.

"The stocks had been packed and were to be shipped to Hong Kong today, but the mainland officers suddenly inspected the factory and took away all the boxes," Lai said Friday, adding that they also sealed the factory.

Hong Kong witnessed months of protests late last year, which paralyzed parts of the city. Protesters were calling for Leung's successor to be elected by universal suffrage, but the central government refused. Demonstrators were eventually cleared from the streets without winning any serious concessions.