News: Hong Kong Stages Massive Democracy March

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I am not there, but I wish I was. I am so proud so many people came out again.

Hong Kong Stages Massive Democracy March

Thu Jul 1,10:30 PM ET

By DIRK BEVERIDGE, Associated Press Writer

HONG KONG – Angered by Beijing’s decision ruling out full democracy in Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands of people marched Thursday to demand the right to choose their leader.

“We don’t want to be subservient to the central government,” said Ben Kwok, a 40-year-old factory owner, as the crowd clogged streets and turned much of downtown Hong Kong into a sprawling but peaceful protest zone.

Organizers claimed 530,000 people had marched — a turnout that would put the rally on par with one that jolted the Chinese and Hong Kong governments exactly a year earlier. Police offered a lower estimate, saying about 200,000 people were there by midway through the five-hour demonstration.

Numbers aside, Hong Kong’s people made it clear they are unhappy with the way they have been governed in the seven years since Britain returned this former colony to China, and they want to make changes on their own.

Worried about the march, China ruled in April that Hong Kong citizens cannot directly choose their next leader in 2007 or all lawmakers in 2008. Having laid down the law, Beijing then sought to make nice with several conciliatory gestures — including sending a religious relic, one of Buddha’s fingers, to the territory for a temporary display a month ago.

But the demonstrators are sticking with their demands, even though political experts see little chance China will change its mind.

“Why do we say it’s impossible when politics is the achievement of the impossible?” asked Lee Cheuk-yan, a unionist and opposition lawmaker. “We feel that with such a high turnout, the Beijing government has to listen to the voice of the people of Hong Kong.”

The United States said it respected the people’s right to seek political reforms.

“It is up to the Hong Kong people and the government of Hong Kong to determine the pace and scope of democratization,” Susan N. Stevenson, a spokeswoman for the U.S. consulate, said by telephone.

The crowd appeared less intense Thursday than it did a year ago, when Hong Kongers protested an anti-subversion bill many viewed as a threat to civil liberties. Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa was shaken and withdrew the bill in an unprecedented political retreat.

Ordinary Hong Kong people, emboldened by that success, then set their sights on achieving full democracy. Tung was chosen by an 800-member committee, though Hong Kong citizens directly elect some legislators.

Rank-and-file voters will pick 30 of 60 lawmakers in September, stirring fears in Beijing that Hong Kong could end up with a legislature that will not back Tung. The other lawmakers are picked by special-interest groups that tend to side with the government.

Tung told reporters late Thursday he had listened to the people’s complaints and understood their hopes for full democracy. Tung held out no prospects for quick change, however, saying any political reforms must be “gradual and orderly” as China has insisted. He did not take questions.

Marchers filled all four lanes of one major thoroughfare, peacefully chanting slogans, holding up signs and waving inflatable Tung dolls as they made their way to the fenced-off Hong Kong government headquarters.

Chinese Foreign Ministry (news – web sites) spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing that her government is “resolutely opposed to foreign interference” and added that Hong Kong’s political system gives its citizens “real and unprecedented democracy.”

The march came on the seventh anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover and overshadowed official commemorations. Apparently hoping to avoid embarrassment, China did not send any ranking leaders to the ceremonies this year.

Huge Hong Kong democracy rally puts China on back foot

Fri Jul 2, 4:13 AM ET

HONG KONG (AFP) – China must respond to a huge pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong that called for greater freedoms, analysts said, warning that failure to do so would risk deepening a rift between the people of the territory and Beijing.

Organisers said over 500,000 people took part in Thursday’s protest against Beijing’s decision to block calls for the territory’s chief executive to be elected by universal suffrage in 2007.

Held on the seventh anniversary of Hong Kong’s reversion to Chinese control from British colonial rule, it followed a similar half-a-million march on July 1 last year against an unpopular subversion bill which was later shelved.

Analysts said the huge turn-out for a second year running sent a clear message to the communist government in Beijing that it could not ignore Hong Kong’s democracy movement.

“Last year’s rally was more focused but this year’s was appealing for broader demands — fundamental demands for freedom,” said political commentator and columnist Johnny Lau.

“It has forced China to think about the actual issues, rather than the fact that there was an unprecedented march, like last year.”

China’s decision in April to rule out direct elections to choose Hong Kong’s next chief executive left the territory deeply divided, and led to fears that the “high degree of autonomy” promised to capitalist Hong Kong when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997 was being undermined.

“I think Beijing underestimated the will of the people last year,” said Lau.

“It thought Hong Kong people were only interested in the economy and offered lots of economic boosts thinking that would keep them happy. But that wasn’t enough.

“Beijing has to now show that it is taking the people seriously. There are lots of people who feel left out politically and economically. They have to be drawn in.”

In a press conference after the rally Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa said he would listen to the protesters but he made no promises of concessions.

Legislator David Chu warned that if China ignored the aspirations of the Hong Kong people, it could lead to civil disturbances — something not seen in the city since the days of China’s Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s.

Hong Kong University political science professor Sonny Lo said the job of placating the people to keep the peace will be tougher because of this year’s march.

“There was a plurality of demands among the people this year, which is good for Hong Kong because it shows they can accept a broad political platform,” said Lo.

“But it will make things harder for Beijing because it will have to try to address a broader range of problems.”

Lo doesn’t believe China will make any sudden moves because to change now would risk losing face.

But in the long run he believes the march could force some retooling of Hong Kong policy.

“It showed last year’s was not a one off but that at the same time Hong Kong people are moderate in their demands,” said Lo.

“I think that as a result the moderates in Beijing will push for some concessions that will best suit their purpose.”

He also believes an early exit for Tung could be on the cards to make way for a new face to restore some confidence in the government.

In the meantime, analysts agree, China will be concentrating on September’s legislative elections in Hong Kong.

Expected democratic gains in the polls could be problematic and lead to gridlock in government as a non-partisan legislature opposes bills and policies introduced by the Beijing-appointed administration.

It could also weaken Beijing’s hand in suppressing calls for democracy.

“Beijing will try to win the hearts and minds of Hong Kong people because of these elections,” former legislator and Civic Exchange think tank director Christine Loh told local RTHK radio.

PS. Glutter is exactly one year old yesterday…