The people of Hong Kong are still chafing under the broken promises of totalitarian China.
In stifling heat and humidity, tens of thousands of protesters swarmed through the streets of Hong Kong today to send a defiant call for democracy to communist rulers in China.Posted by Alan at July 1, 2004 12:18 PMOn a day when city officials marked the seventh anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China from British colonial rule, citizens took advantage of the public holiday to demand their right to choose their leaders.
Amid scenes reminiscent of an unprecedented march last year when 500,000 rallied against an unpopular anti-subversion law, a sea of protesters filled the streets below downtown high-rises more used to the bustle of shoppers."Universal suffrage now," many cried and "protect freedom of speech".
Early tallies were difficult to gauge, but organisers said they believed more than 350,000 had joined - in excess of the 300,000 predicted. Police could not confirm the figure but said the march was peaceful.