Tens of thousands of disgruntled residents march for democracy
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – Tens of thousands of people marched in Hong Kong in a sweltering heat (31º C) demanding greater democracy and expressing their dissatisfaction with the territory’s social and economic situation. Organisers expected at least 100,000 people but fell short with only 77,000 actually coming.
Among the demonstrators were investors hurt in the global financial crisis who feel the government let them down with inadequate financial regulation. Environmental activists carried "wanted" posters, describing Mr Tsang as a "climate fugitive". Journalists also marched to raise awareness about the danger of self-censorship by newspapers and TV networks to please Beijing. However, the most important demand was the implementation of full democracy in Hong Kong which Beijing has said will not happen before 2017 at the earliest. Among the protesters many young people called for "one person, one vote"; others demanded greater respect for the environment. Many families with older members and children also took part in the event.
Police barricades were set up so close that the last marcher to leave Victoria Park had to wait until 5 pm, or two hours after the start of the march. Scuffles broke out between police and protesters. Police was heavily criticised. Police agents who had said that they would take part in the march pulled out at the last moment after they got a pay rise. According to some participants, including former Chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang, police tried to discourage participation. Under the hot summer sun some participants fainted.
Before the march began, a group of Catholics and Protestants met in Victoria Park for a moment of prayer and reflection before joining the marchers. In previous years Card Joseph Zen, now Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, participated in the event. This year the new bishop, Mgr John Tong, chose not to take part but encouraged the Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong diocese and priests connected to it to support the initiative.
In addition to the march the day saw official celebrations marking the return of the former British Crown colony to China, including the raising of the flag, a reception at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and shows at Hong Kong Stadium.
Government sources put the number of participants in the official ceremony at 40,000, many of whom came to see dancers and acrobats as well as People's Liberation Army soldiers and performing groups from Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
Radical lawmaker "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung attempted to stage a protest at the flag-raising ceremony. He and others chanted slogans demanding the central government release mainland academic Liu Xiaobo, who was formally arrested last week—after months in detention—for inciting subversion by publishing pro-democracy articles and signing Charter 08.
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