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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Tens of thousands defy China to demand Hong Kong democracy |
| 2007-07-01 |
| h/t Lucianne Hong Kong - An estimated 68,000 people marched Sunday to demand democracy for Hong Kong on the 10th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, hours after China's president warned them not to defy Beijing. Huge crowds congregated in the city's Victoria Park and marched on the government central offices for the annual demonstration to demand universal suffrage, overshadowing government-organized anniversary celebrations. Organizers declared themselves 'delighted' with the turnout which they estimated at 68,000 making it the largest since the 2003 and 2004 July 1 marches which each attracted more than 500,000 people. However, the Hong Kong police, which traditionally puts a low estimate on turnouts for anti-government demonstrations, estimated the turnout at just 20,000. A reporter for government-run radio station RTHK earlier estimated the crowd at 40,000 to 50,000. A spokeswoman for the march organizers said: 'We are very happy so many Hong Kong people came out onto the streets today. Now we hope the government will respond to the people's demands for democracy.' President Hu Jintao, visiting Hong Kong for the first time as China's leader, earlier sounded an apparent warning to pro-democracy campaigners Sunday, warning them not to challenge Beijing's powers. In a speech to mark the handover anniversary, President Hu spoke of the 'paramount importance' of national unity above any of Hong Kong's singular interests. But Hu left the city before the pro-democracy march began Sunday afternoon in a move that seemed designed to avoid any embarrassing confrontations. The Chinese leader's speech, delivered at a swearing-in ceremony for a new Beijing-appointed administration in Hong Kong, appeared to be a warning to campaigners pressing for universal suffrage in the former British colony. Hu went to lengths to stress that national unity was the most important factor of the 'one country, two systems' arrangement by which Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule on July 1, 1997. 'One country and two systems cannot be separated from each other, still less should they be set against each other,' Hu said. 'One country means we must uphold the power vested with the central government and uphold China's sovereignty, unity and security.' Hu spoke of a 'gradual, orderly development' of Hong Kong's political system, indicating that Beijing would not be rushed into putting a date on universal suffrage in the former British colony. The president, accompanied by Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang, then left the city for Shenzhen in neighbouring southern China before the start of the pro-democracy demonstration. At the demonstration, Catholic church leader Cardinal Joseph Zen said he was in 'no mood to celebrate' the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule as the city still had no democracy. Responding to the pro-democracy march, a government spokesman said: 'The Chief Executive has undertaken to completely resolve the issue of universal suffrage within his term of office.' President Hu's relatively low-key visit, with no public walkabouts, was characterized by tight security with police keeping protesters from going anywhere near the Grand Hyatt Hotel where he stayed. Hong Kong was a British colony for 156 years before reverting to Chinese rule at the stroke of midnight on July 1, 1997, under an agreement that guarantees political freedoms for 50 years. The territory is technically entitled to full democracy from 2007 but China and Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed chief executive have so far refused to name a date for universal suffrage in the city of 6.9 million. |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #3 nice visual SH LOL |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-07-01 17:45 |
| #2 I'm not sure why anyone who wanted Democracy would have decided to stay in Hong Kong. I would have been doing a pull-up on the skid of the last helo as it lifted off. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2007-07-01 17:37 |
| #1 Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed chief executive have so far refused to name a date for universal suffrage Meanwhile, stay tuned for Frost Warnings in Hell. |
| Posted by: DMFD 2007-07-01 17:35 |