Mass protests as Hong Kong marks 15 years under China
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Mass protests as Hong Kong marks 15 years under China
Tens of thousands of pro-democracy marchers have marched through the streets of Hong Kong as the former British colony marked 15 years since the return to Chinese rule.
The rally for human rights takes place annually, but has been bolstered this year by anger towards Beijing.
Earlier, China's visiting President Hu Jintao swore in businessman CY Leung as the territory's new leader.
During the ceremony, a lone heckler tried to interrupt Mr Hu's speech.
On the streets outside, massive crowds beat drums and waved flags as they marched though the city to call for full democracy and express their frustration with the mainland.
'Rule of law'
The BBC's Juliana Liu, who was at the protest, says there was a carnival atmosphere with political parties shouting slogans and civic groups showing off their singing and dancing skills.
One of the main complaints was that the system used to choose Hong Kong's leader is designed to install Beijing's choice.
A so-called electoral college of 1,200 business leaders and other influential citizens, mostly loyal to Beijing, selects the leader.
Elaine Mok, who was taking part in the protest with her family, said the march was about the right to universal suffrage.
"We're fighting for justice. We're fighting for the rule of law," she told the BBC. "The Chinese government is interfering with the workings of the Hong Kong government, and that's not right."
"We are fighting for the right to vote. It should have happened by now."
According to Paul Yip, a demographic specialist at the University of Hong Kong, some 82,000 people attended the rally - about 20,000 more than last year's demonstration.
Organisers, meanwhile, put the figure much higher, at 400,000.
'Joyous occasion'
Our correspondent says it Mr Hu's visit was a far cry from his last appearance five years ago, when he toured Hong Kong in a blaze of pre-Olympic glory.
At the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Hu offered "warm congratulations" to the 57-year-old Mr Leung and his team and described the 15th anniversary as a "joyous occasion".
He reiterated Beijing's commitment to the "one country, two systems" policy whereby Hong Kongers are allowed many more political freedoms than Chinese people on the mainland.
Mr Hu continued the address despite an interruption by a member of the crowd, who was heard calling for a condemnation of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and an end to one-party rule in China.
Mr Hu continued the address despite an interruption by a member of the crowd, who was heard calling for a condemnation of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and an end to one-party rule in China.
The man, who was a guest at the inauguration ceremony, was quickly bundled out of the harbourfront building by security.
Mr Hu, whose visit was carefully choreographed, left before Sunday's protests began.
But on Saturday, police had to shield the president from demonstrators, and officers used pepper spray to disperse crowds who were demanding an investigation into the death in China of a Tiananmen activist, Li Wangyang, last month.
His visit comes as public confidence in the Beijing government has fallen to a new low.
People are unhappy with record property prices, an increasing wealth gap, a lack of democracy and a string of political scandals, our correspondent says.
Hong Kong, a British colony until 1997, has a comparatively high degree of autonomy from Beijing.
But China's leaders in Beijing have resisted public pressure for full democracy in the city.
Mr Leung replaces Donald Tsang, who took office in 2005
Tens of thousands of pro-democracy marchers have marched through the streets of Hong Kong as the former British colony marked 15 years since the return to Chinese rule.
The rally for human rights takes place annually, but has been bolstered this year by anger towards Beijing.
Earlier, China's visiting President Hu Jintao swore in businessman CY Leung as the territory's new leader.
During the ceremony, a lone heckler tried to interrupt Mr Hu's speech.
On the streets outside, massive crowds beat drums and waved flags as they marched though the city to call for full democracy and express their frustration with the mainland.
'Rule of law'
The BBC's Juliana Liu, who was at the protest, says there was a carnival atmosphere with political parties shouting slogans and civic groups showing off their singing and dancing skills.
One of the main complaints was that the system used to choose Hong Kong's leader is designed to install Beijing's choice.
A so-called electoral college of 1,200 business leaders and other influential citizens, mostly loyal to Beijing, selects the leader.
Elaine Mok, who was taking part in the protest with her family, said the march was about the right to universal suffrage.
"We're fighting for justice. We're fighting for the rule of law," she told the BBC. "The Chinese government is interfering with the workings of the Hong Kong government, and that's not right."
"We are fighting for the right to vote. It should have happened by now."
According to Paul Yip, a demographic specialist at the University of Hong Kong, some 82,000 people attended the rally - about 20,000 more than last year's demonstration.
Organisers, meanwhile, put the figure much higher, at 400,000.
'Joyous occasion'
Our correspondent says it Mr Hu's visit was a far cry from his last appearance five years ago, when he toured Hong Kong in a blaze of pre-Olympic glory.
At the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Hu offered "warm congratulations" to the 57-year-old Mr Leung and his team and described the 15th anniversary as a "joyous occasion".
He reiterated Beijing's commitment to the "one country, two systems" policy whereby Hong Kongers are allowed many more political freedoms than Chinese people on the mainland.
Mr Hu continued the address despite an interruption by a member of the crowd, who was heard calling for a condemnation of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and an end to one-party rule in China.
Mr Hu continued the address despite an interruption by a member of the crowd, who was heard calling for a condemnation of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and an end to one-party rule in China.
The man, who was a guest at the inauguration ceremony, was quickly bundled out of the harbourfront building by security.
Mr Hu, whose visit was carefully choreographed, left before Sunday's protests began.
But on Saturday, police had to shield the president from demonstrators, and officers used pepper spray to disperse crowds who were demanding an investigation into the death in China of a Tiananmen activist, Li Wangyang, last month.
His visit comes as public confidence in the Beijing government has fallen to a new low.
People are unhappy with record property prices, an increasing wealth gap, a lack of democracy and a string of political scandals, our correspondent says.
Hong Kong, a British colony until 1997, has a comparatively high degree of autonomy from Beijing.
But China's leaders in Beijing have resisted public pressure for full democracy in the city.
Mr Leung replaces Donald Tsang, who took office in 2005
Beijing, selects the leader.
Musharraf was born in Delhi.
Manmohan Singh was born in Lahore.
ethno-lunguistic.. wow
cultural-religious.. ha ha...
So, India has a non ethno-lunguistic Indian (actually a Pakistani) as prime minister, and Pakistan had a cultural-religious Indian as it's President.
So, what you imply is that an Indian became the President of Pakistan, and before he did so, he plotted as the Chief of Pakistani Army to plan and launch Kargil attack.
And the Indian economic scene got revolutionized courtesy an ethno-lunguistic Pakistani in 1991 .. who then rose to become the Prime Minister of India.
Well.. well.. you seem to imply that cultural-religious Indians like to have ethno-lunguistic Pakistanis to lead them... and ethno-lunguistic Pakistanis choose whom as their President: a cultural-religious Indian...
In short, you want to write a comedy piece of literature.. no?
Fanling Monk
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one question when HK was under UK you guys have equal rights like UK citizens ? and you can travel to UK without visa passport?
if it was visa free please tell to UK take us back and next month we will delver 100mn pakistanis in UK and occupy itthen it will be impossible to find a white British man like red Indians
The Brits are known for their snobbishness, they even look down on the Americans so you can imagine how they treated their colonial subjects in HK. But they can sound very nice and patronizing and make you believe they're doing everything for your own good. During the handover in HK they only allowed the riches few to migrate there.
The Brits resisted the promotions of Chinese for a century and only until a few decades before the handover they allow some in high positions. But even that was meaningless because they too answer to the Brits and very few opposed their policies openly.
IMO, the people of HK have to accept the fact we belong to China and in fact Chinese. Good or bad this is our government if anything we don't like we should seek changes from the electoral and participate in that political process. Waving the British flags, as some demonstrators did, is simply not acceptable.
Rajaraja Chola
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India didnt give out a statement troll... Dont give india into it...
HK people protested , and even there are HK members who are opposed to beijing... Knock off..
Rajaraja Chola
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Here comes the saviour... Nice trolling
Better luck in insulting next time
Kid , there is nothing to get frustrated about !!!
shuttler
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How big was it and as a % to the population of HK? and as a % to HKers who choose to celebrate or carry on their lives as usual inistead of cheerleading on the streets like indian cheerleaders on the forum!?
I understand there are other group of protesters with their theme on many other issues than protesting against the HK government or Beijing! How many are those in the mix?
Rajaraja Chola
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Kindly be on topic !! Kashmir is a thing discussed lotta times !!!
And it was in same china , net are blocked , activist are kidnapped(kidnapped in balochistan also) etc
I don wsh to go into that, which are irrevelent to thread topic...
Rajaraja Chola
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What do u think? People shouldnt think freely? People shouldnt protest or oppose govt and must be like a slave to communist party in power?
Hear their problems and try to implement them...
Who said otherwise , my dear troll?
United
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dude dont be angry i was merely reminding you as u were shouting so loudly democracy......
Bheja fry plz
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