Thousands rally in Hong Kong against pro-democracy Occupy Central movement
Updated August 17, 2014 21:49:19
Photo: Thousands took part in a pro-Beijing rally in Hong Kong on August 17, 2014. (AFP: Alex Ogle)
Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Hong Kong to protest against a civil disobedience campaign by pro-democracy activists.
Demonstrators braved the sweltering heat to take part in Sunday's rally, which was organised by pro-Beijing group the Alliance for Peace and Democracy.
Alliance organisers say they oppose the Occupy Central group that has threatened to shut down Hong Kong's financial district with a mass sit-in unless China grants acceptable electoral reforms.
"We want to show that the march doesn't have to be violent and angry. It can be happy," Robert Chow, spokesman for the alliance, said.
The group says it has so far collected close to 1.5 million signatures, including that of Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying, saying the "illegal" Occupy campaign would tarnish Hong Kong's reputation and hurt business.
It wasn't possible to independently verify the number, which exceeded the almost 800,000 votes in Occupy Central's unofficial poll on democracy in June.
The pro-Beijing rally kicked off early on Sunday with a run through the centre of the city that attracted about 1,500 in temperatures as high as 30 degrees Celsius, organisers said.
Pensioners join pro-government march
The all-day rally was overshadowed by speculation that some business groups had pressured people to take part.
Many rally participants, mostly elderly, told Reuters they had been provided with free transport by various political and business groups.
In one district, about 150 people boarded buses organised by the Hong Kong Livestock Industry Association.
One man interviewed by Reuters said he had boarded a bus from an outlying area of Hong Kong and was given a HK$30 subsidy for lunch.
"It is normal to have a little bit of a subsidy when you are at a march. Some (marches) give more, some less, but this time we only get a little money for food," Chan Chiu-fat, 55, said.
In a Whatsapp message seen by Reuters, people were offered HK$350 ($45) to attend the rally "for five hours". The message sender, however, declined to provide their name or background.
Alliance spokesman Mr Chow dismissed such messages as fake and attempts to discredit the pro-Beijing campaign.
Occupy group presses for 'genuine' democracy
Hong Kong was handed over from Britain to China in 1997 under an arrangement that guarantees the city's freedom and civil liberties.
China says residents can vote for Hong Kong's leader in 2017, but concerns are growing that the city's pro-Beijing administration will set out a proposal that vets candidates.
Hong Kong's chief executive is currently chosen by a pro-Beijing committee.
Pro-democracy groups have called on Beijing to allow open nominations rather than only letting "patriotic" pro-Beijing candidates to stand.
Pro-democracy lawmakers said they would press ahead with the campaign to gridlock Hong Kong, if Beijing fails to come up with a proposal that meets their demands.
Occupy Central has said its movement is peaceful, demanding a "genuine choice" for Hong Kong's five million eligible voters.
Reuters/AFP