Hong Kong Rally shows people are ready for democracy
Hong Kong (AsiaNews/SCMP) Yesterday's rally in favour of universal suffrage was a great success with more than 250,000 people participating, this according to organisers who said that people, including women, the elderly and the sick, expressed their desire for democracy.
For the police, 60,000 people turned out in the first two hours of the rally with another 40,000 joining before the end.
Ronny Tong Ka-wah of the Article 45 Concern Group said the turnout, which he put at 250,000, "gives us a new mandate to continue to oppose the constitutional reform package and fight for universal suffrage".
Democratic Party chairman Lee Wing-tat said Mr Tsang should rethink the reform package and go to Beijing to discuss it with state leaders.
Anson Chan Fang On-sang, a former top official in the Hong Kong administration for 37 years who resigned in 2001 for personal reasons, was among the protesters. Her role in yesterday's march was seen by some as a move towards the "launch of her campaign for chief executive" in the 2007 election. Ms Chan, however, said she had "no hidden agenda. There are many other ways to serve the people".
In response to a question on the social bases of the rally, she answered describing herself as a patriot, adding that the central and Hong Kong governments should listen to the "clear voice" for democracy.
"I encourage the people to persevere for their ideals and beliefs. I will remember for the rest of my life the experience of marching for the first time. I am very touched by the support and love the public have shown me," she said.
When she got the platform, people began shouting: "Long live Mrs Chan. You will be a much better chief executive than Donald Tsang [Yam-kuen]".
Demonstrators clearly showed an understanding of what is at stake and expressed a desire for real change.
For example, Fok Ching, an executive said: "We have to let the government know that Hong Kong people are mature enough for universal suffrage. We also have to let higher authorities know that Hong Kong is very determined to achieve full democracy."
For his part, Cheng Hoi-yu, 10, said: "[M]y parents said it [universal suffrage] would affect my future, [so] I have to do something."
Mike Wall has been living in Hong Kong for more than 20 years. "Hong Kong is my home," he said. "I want to make my feelings known about the lack of democracy in Hong Kong. All we are asking Beijing to do is tell us when we're going to get it".
Simon Lee owns a pharmacy store whose business drops 30 to 40 per cent every time there is a rally. But he said "I don't hate them [the demonstrators] because they are just voicing their opinion."
China's Xinhua news agency reported the event noting that some citizens joined a march which organisers said was to express discontent over the constitutional reform. But its report noted that the aspirations of the participants were not unified.
(In the photo, a demonstrators waves a banner that reads: "I want to see universal suffrage")
.png)
