Thousands in New Year's Day democracy march

They criticize the stifling of political freedoms and the growing inequalities due to the links existing in the territory between big business and Beijing. The demonstration, organized by the Civil Human Rights Front, also infiltrated by dozens of "separatists".

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Several thousand people - especially young people - participated yesterday in the march for democracy in the center of Hong Kong, protesting the stifling of political freedoms and the growing inequalities due to the links existing in the territory between big business and Beijing, for example in construction.

The demonstration, organized by the Civil Human Rights Front, was also infiltrated by dozens of "separatists", who claim not only a "special autonomy" for Hong Kong, but full independence from China. Last September, the government outlawed the "separatist" party because it threatens the security of the territory. The independence party was born as a reaction to the failure of the demands of the population to be able to directly elect the chief executive of Hong Kong, after the gigantic demonstrations of Occupy Central in 2014.

The event, however, required greater respect for the autonomy of Hong Kong that in recent years has been increasingly deteriorating, with greater influence of Beijing on the media, publishing, trade and, of course, on the elections.

Thanks to an agreement between China and Great Britain, from the return of Hong Kong to China, the territory should have at least a decent autonomy, at least until 2049, sealed with the slogan "one country, two systems". But now the influence of Beijing is visible in all sectors of society.

According to the organizers, 5500 people attended the event. For the police they were only 3 thousand.

• hong kong
• china
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• march 1st january
• occupy central
• separatists
• elections
• one country two systems