January 1, 2004
Thousands in Hong Kong Streets Demand Democracy
By REUTERS
Filed at 8:00 a.m. ET
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people streamed into Hong
Kong streets on New Year's Day to demand greater democracy in the
biggest march since huge protests in July shocked local leaders and
Beijing.
Shouting ``We demand more democracy,'' ``Return power to the people''
and ``One man, one vote,'' political activists, workers and families
filed slowly from a park in the busy Causeway Bay shopping district to
government offices in central Hong Kong.
Organizers said 100,000 people had joined the march by 6 p.m. (1000
GMT), five times more than expected, while a Reuters photographer
estimated the number at 70,000 to 80,000. Police said they would not
provide a total figure.dispersing in the former British colony after
tying yellow ribbons to the gate of the government office to symbolize
their demands.
Before they set off, religious groups prayed that Hong Kong voters
would be allowed to elect their own leaders.
``We want full democracy -- the right to elect our own chief executive
and all members of the Legislative Council,'' said Richard Tsoi, a
spokesman for the organizers who also led the July 1 march, which drew
half a million people into the streets.
``China's new leaders have shown they are willing to listen to
people's views so it is important for Hong Kong people to stand up and
voice their demands strongly and clearly,'' Tsoi said.
TUNG'S POLICY SPEECH
Tsoi said Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa must address calls
for more democracy when he delivers his annual policy speech on
January 7 or face more protests.
``The size of the turnout was very encouraging. It sends a clear
message that Hong Kong people want full democracy and that is building
momentum.''
Hong Kong's first mass demonstration of the new year was widely seen
as a test of whether public anger at the deeply unpopular Tung has
cooled in recent months and was expected to be closely watched by
China's communist leaders.
Already fearful that Taiwan could move toward formal independence,
China is worried that calls for more democracy could loosen its grip
on Hong Kong and spread to the mainland.
Some pro-China politicians had warned that a large turnout Thursday
could increase anxiety in Beijing.
China largely controls Hong Kong, even though the city was promised a
high degree of autonomy after Britain handed it back in 1997. It
selects the city's leader and has devised a system that ensures many
law-makers are pro-government.
Hong Kong's constitution says its leader and all law-makers can be
directly elected from 2007 but gives no details.
After years of avoiding the issue, Tung's government has promised to
release soon a timetable for consultation. But many doubt Beijing will
allow direct elections for chief executive.
In a statement, the Hong Kong government said it would start
collecting views on democratic development as soon as possible.
NO BIG CHANGES
It also said it would move forward on reforms in a gradual and orderly
manner as stipulated in Hong Kong's constitution, wording which many
critics interpret as meaning that neither it nor Beijing want to see
any significant changes soon.
Tung has been fiercely criticized for a string of policy decisions
since he took office. His insistence on trying to push through a tough
anti-subversion bill sparked the July protest and triggered Hong
Kong's biggest political crisis in years.
Democracy parties, capitalizing on the growing frustration, dealt a
heavy blow to pro-China forces in local elections in November and are
gearing up for a September bid to wrest control of Hong Kong's top
legislative body.
Tung fueled fresh public anger Saturday by appointing 102 people to
district councils, snubbing demands that ordinary people be given more
say in choosing local leaders.
``The government didn't heed the voice of the people on July 1. They
still do whatever they want,'' said Anna Yip as she prepared to march.
Wary of inflaming public opinion further, the government has withdrawn
the security bill and backed down on other contentious plans. Two
unpopular ministers have resigned.
Beijing has also showered economic favors on the city since July in a
bid to boost public confidence.
While the economy has since improved, dissatisfaction with the
government continues to grow, feeding calls for reform.
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