Pro-democracy protesters hold banners with image of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying as they march on a street, demanding universal suffrage and asking Leung to quit yesterday.
HONG KONG: Thousands of protesters, some waving British colonial-era flags, marched in Hong Kong yesterday to denounce the city’s leaders and demand universal suffrage on the 16th anniversary of the territory’s handover to China.
Tropical Storm Rumbia brought rain and strong winds as demonstrators bearing banners saying “Democracy now” and “Down with the Chinese Communist Party” started off from the city’s landmark Victoria Park to march to the financial district of Central.
The annual rally for democracy comes amid concerns in the southern Chinese city that Beijing is increasingly meddling in local affairs. A widening income gap and soaring property prices have also contributed to the turnout as protestors focused their anger on unpopular Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.
The July 1 rally comes after a survey published by the Hong Kong University found that only 33 percent of Hong Kongers took pride in being a Chinese national, the lowest level since 1998.
Leung was appointed by a pro-Beijing committee last July, promising to improve governance and uphold the rule of law in the territory of seven million people.
He is charged with overseeing the transition to universal suffrage to appoint the city’s leader, which was promised by 2017, though critics say little or no progress has been made on the issue as the deadline draws nearer.
Early yesterday, China’s national anthem blared as the Chinese and Hong Kong flags were raised outside the harbour-side Convention Centre in a ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary of its handover to China.
A small but rowdy protest took place near the ceremony with demonstrators burning a photograph of Leung and pushing and shoving with police.
AFP
