I SERIOUSLY REGRET NOT GOING
Tuesday July 1, 7:28 PM
Protesters pour into HK streets, burn Communist flag
By Carrie Lee and Rico Ngai
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to Hong Kong's streets on Tuesday to denounce the government's planned anti-subversion law, in the city's biggest street demonstration since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
"Return rule to the people," they chanted as the rally began to denounce a bill critics say will impose Beijing-style control over free speech and the media.
Brandishing banners, umbrellas and fans, many wore black on a sweltering day to mourn what they said was the demise of rights and freedoms in one of the world's key financial centres.
Critics say the law, which Beijing has been pressing Hong Kong to enact, poses the biggest threat to basic rights in the former British colony since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
Hours before the rally began, protesters burned the Communist Party flag as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao repeatedly tried to reassure the nervous territory that its freedoms would be protected.
By late afternoon rally organisers said around 400,000 people had turned out with more still pouring in. while a Reuters photographer estimated the crowd at about half that. It was the largest organised protest in Hong Kong since 1989, when a million turned out after troops killed hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators in the Chinese capital.
Many more protesters were stranded miles away as the crush of people heading to the rally overwhelmed subway and bus systems.
The government has said it would not back down on the legislation regardless of Tuesday's turnout. The bill is bound to be passed by the territory's legislature, which is packed with pro-Beijing and pro-government supportes.
While most marchers' prime target was the anti-subversion measures, to be enshrined as Article 23 of Hong Kong's Basic Law or mini-constitution, many others said they were frustrated by the government's handling of the ailing economy and the SARS epidemic, which killed some 300 people in the territory.
Marchers came from all walks of life with businessmen, retirees and young couples pushing baby strollers marching alongside veteran pro-democracy supporters.
PUBLIC ANGER
Political commentator Andy Ho said he was not surprised by the extent of public anger.
"Those who have come out are from all walks of life, and are not only opposed to Article 23 but a host of government policies," Ho told Reuters.
"This should serve as a wake-up call for the government. If it does not heed people's views, grievances will deepen and it will make it more difficult for it to rule Hong Kong."
The flag-burning took place a few hundred metres (yards) from the convention centre where Wen and local leaders were celebrating the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.
"End one-party rule and release political prisoners," the protesters yelled, setting the red and yellow hammer-and-sickle flag ablaze. "We're against Article 23."
In what are believed to be the first public comments by a senior Chinese leader on the controversial issue, Wen repeatedly assured Hong Kong that its special status would be protected.
"The legislation according to Article 23 will not affect the different rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people, including journalists, under the law," Wen told reporters.
He did not refer to Tuesday's marchers directly, but said stability was the key to the territory's long-term prosperity.
Although Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy after the handover, critics say there has been a subtle roll-back of freedoms since the end of British rule, especially as it grows more economically dependent on the mainland.
The government's push to pass the law this month has stoked concerns that any dissent may soon be treated the same way it is in China. Beijing fears that without the law, Hong Kong will be used as a base for subversive activities against it.
Under the legislation, people can be jailed for life if convicted of subversion, treason, sedition against or secession from China. It also allows closed-door trials and gives police widespread search powers without court warrants.
But the government's much-criticised handling of the bill and many other issues may have set the stage for a bigger battle.
Its refusal to allow more public consultation and widespread anger at Beijing-appointed Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has spurred growing calls for more democracy and may have galvanised generations of people into becoming more politically active.
"Prolonged dissatisfaction in the economic area has begun to turn into political demands," pollster Robert Chung said.
"The government is trying to use the law to suppress people's views and voices," said lawyer Terry Chan.
"Tung's government is a malignant tumour on society...If we let this fester, Hong Kong will die," she said.
seriously - tung chee hwa is so useless.
i should've gone to excercise the little democracy that hong kong has left
clara went today, she said despite the heat, it was well worth the walk.
(amidst the smelly Hong Konger B.O. too!)
Protesters pour into HK streets, burn Communist flag
By Carrie Lee and Rico Ngai
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to Hong Kong's streets on Tuesday to denounce the government's planned anti-subversion law, in the city's biggest street demonstration since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
"Return rule to the people," they chanted as the rally began to denounce a bill critics say will impose Beijing-style control over free speech and the media.
Brandishing banners, umbrellas and fans, many wore black on a sweltering day to mourn what they said was the demise of rights and freedoms in one of the world's key financial centres.
Critics say the law, which Beijing has been pressing Hong Kong to enact, poses the biggest threat to basic rights in the former British colony since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.
Hours before the rally began, protesters burned the Communist Party flag as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao repeatedly tried to reassure the nervous territory that its freedoms would be protected.
By late afternoon rally organisers said around 400,000 people had turned out with more still pouring in. while a Reuters photographer estimated the crowd at about half that. It was the largest organised protest in Hong Kong since 1989, when a million turned out after troops killed hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators in the Chinese capital.
Many more protesters were stranded miles away as the crush of people heading to the rally overwhelmed subway and bus systems.
The government has said it would not back down on the legislation regardless of Tuesday's turnout. The bill is bound to be passed by the territory's legislature, which is packed with pro-Beijing and pro-government supportes.
While most marchers' prime target was the anti-subversion measures, to be enshrined as Article 23 of Hong Kong's Basic Law or mini-constitution, many others said they were frustrated by the government's handling of the ailing economy and the SARS epidemic, which killed some 300 people in the territory.
Marchers came from all walks of life with businessmen, retirees and young couples pushing baby strollers marching alongside veteran pro-democracy supporters.
PUBLIC ANGER
Political commentator Andy Ho said he was not surprised by the extent of public anger.
"Those who have come out are from all walks of life, and are not only opposed to Article 23 but a host of government policies," Ho told Reuters.
"This should serve as a wake-up call for the government. If it does not heed people's views, grievances will deepen and it will make it more difficult for it to rule Hong Kong."
The flag-burning took place a few hundred metres (yards) from the convention centre where Wen and local leaders were celebrating the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.
"End one-party rule and release political prisoners," the protesters yelled, setting the red and yellow hammer-and-sickle flag ablaze. "We're against Article 23."
In what are believed to be the first public comments by a senior Chinese leader on the controversial issue, Wen repeatedly assured Hong Kong that its special status would be protected.
"The legislation according to Article 23 will not affect the different rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people, including journalists, under the law," Wen told reporters.
He did not refer to Tuesday's marchers directly, but said stability was the key to the territory's long-term prosperity.
Although Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy after the handover, critics say there has been a subtle roll-back of freedoms since the end of British rule, especially as it grows more economically dependent on the mainland.
The government's push to pass the law this month has stoked concerns that any dissent may soon be treated the same way it is in China. Beijing fears that without the law, Hong Kong will be used as a base for subversive activities against it.
Under the legislation, people can be jailed for life if convicted of subversion, treason, sedition against or secession from China. It also allows closed-door trials and gives police widespread search powers without court warrants.
But the government's much-criticised handling of the bill and many other issues may have set the stage for a bigger battle.
Its refusal to allow more public consultation and widespread anger at Beijing-appointed Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has spurred growing calls for more democracy and may have galvanised generations of people into becoming more politically active.
"Prolonged dissatisfaction in the economic area has begun to turn into political demands," pollster Robert Chung said.
"The government is trying to use the law to suppress people's views and voices," said lawyer Terry Chan.
"Tung's government is a malignant tumour on society...If we let this fester, Hong Kong will die," she said.
seriously - tung chee hwa is so useless.
i should've gone to excercise the little democracy that hong kong has left
clara went today, she said despite the heat, it was well worth the walk.
(amidst the smelly Hong Konger B.O. too!)