More than 68,000 people took part in the march for democracy yesterday.The rally, the third such event, took place in the afternoon from 2.30pm onwards. Setting out from Victoria Park, the march snaked through the streets of the city centre to reach, after four hours, the Central Government Offices.
Of all the gatherings held in the territory to mark 10 years since the return of Hong Kong to China, the march was the event that drew the most people.
Among the prominent personalities who attended, there was Cardinal Joseph Zen, who for the first time decided to walk with the demonstrators for the entire route.
Other dignitaries included Anson Chan, former secretary general of the government, Democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming and Catholic businessman Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, chairman of the Next Media Group.
Tens of thousands of participants defied the tropical heat, carrying flags, placards and banners. The most popular slogans included calls for full democracy for the territory: “fight for democracy”; “improve livelihood”; “trust the Hong Kong people” and “return power to the people”.
The slogans contend China’s approach: the Basic Law (the mini-constitution of Hong Kong) provides for universal suffrage after 2007; however Beijing has blocked all developments towards democracy, taking on itself ways and means of ruling, in contravention of pacts signed with Great Britain in the handover of power on 1 July 1997.
Many people joined the march to criticize the policy of the government of Hong Kong and growing poverty. Others joined to call for the liberation of the journalist Ching Cheong, arrested and condemned by China for “spying”. The journalist’s wife, Mary Lau Man-yee, attended the march.
The head of the organizers, Jackie Hung Ling-yu of the Civil Human Rights Front, thanked all those present for their attendance, the highest in three years, and called on the government to listen to the voice of the people.
A government spokesman said: “The head of the executive [Donald Tsang] has decided to resolve the question of universal suffrage before his mandate runs out.”
Gao Siren, head of the Liaison Office (that maintains China’s relations with Hong Kong on behalf of the former), underlined: “After 10 years, Hong Kong still enjoys freedom of the press and of expression”.
The Chinese president Hu Jintao, who attended celebration events in the territory for the first time, left Hong Kong two hours before the march started.
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