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Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters return to streets | Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters return to streets |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have returned to the streets for their first big rally since mass protests last year. | Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have returned to the streets for their first big rally since mass protests last year. |
A large police presence was in force to deter protesters from reoccupying key areas of Hong Kong. | A large police presence was in force to deter protesters from reoccupying key areas of Hong Kong. |
But protesters were not reported to be planning a repeat of the occupations that shut down parts of the city. | But protesters were not reported to be planning a repeat of the occupations that shut down parts of the city. |
Last year's Occupy demonstrations called for fully democratic elections for the territory's chief executive. | Last year's Occupy demonstrations called for fully democratic elections for the territory's chief executive. |
China has promised the semi-autonomous territory direct elections in 2017, but ruled that candidates had to be vetted by Beijing. | China has promised the semi-autonomous territory direct elections in 2017, but ruled that candidates had to be vetted by Beijing. |
Initial estimates suggested around 3,000 protesters marched through the city's upmarket shopping and financial districts, watched by about 2,000 police officers. | |
Analysis: Carrie Gracie, BBC China editor | Analysis: Carrie Gracie, BBC China editor |
How many marchers can Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement muster on the streets? Two months after police cleared the encampment from the heart of the city, today is an important test of strength for a movement which caught the world's attention last September with its youthful energy and idealism but which has since struggled to maintain a united voice and popular support. | How many marchers can Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement muster on the streets? Two months after police cleared the encampment from the heart of the city, today is an important test of strength for a movement which caught the world's attention last September with its youthful energy and idealism but which has since struggled to maintain a united voice and popular support. |
From the point of view of the demonstrators, the fundamental question is whether Hong Kong's political destiny will be defined by its own citizens or by authoritarian rule from China. | From the point of view of the demonstrators, the fundamental question is whether Hong Kong's political destiny will be defined by its own citizens or by authoritarian rule from China. |
The guarantees of a high degree of autonomy under the "one country, two systems" formula are being put to the test as political controls on the mainland tighten and Hong Kong's economic leverage diminishes. | The guarantees of a high degree of autonomy under the "one country, two systems" formula are being put to the test as political controls on the mainland tighten and Hong Kong's economic leverage diminishes. |
Many demonstrators carried yellow umbrellas - the symbol of the political campaign. | |
BBC China editor Carrie Gracie, who is at the march, tweeted that police had told her it was "so far so good". | |
'Wake-up call' | |
Tens of thousands of demonstrators had taken to the streets in September last year, demanding political change. | |
There were violent clashes with police, and the final protest camp was dismantled in December. | There were violent clashes with police, and the final protest camp was dismantled in December. |
One organiser of the latest march, Daisy Chan, told the AFP news agency it would show that last year's demonstrations were a watershed for Hong Kong. | |
"In the past years, these citizens were less political than they are right now. The Occupy movement woke people up. | "In the past years, these citizens were less political than they are right now. The Occupy movement woke people up. |
"The rally continues to call out to people to join the democracy movement." | "The rally continues to call out to people to join the democracy movement." |
However, Lam Woon-kwong of the Executive Council, Hong Kong's top policy-making body, told local radio on Sunday: "You can't threaten the central authorities." | However, Lam Woon-kwong of the Executive Council, Hong Kong's top policy-making body, told local radio on Sunday: "You can't threaten the central authorities." |
Before the march police had been wary of reports that there were no plans for protesters to reoccupy public areas, issuing a statement saying: "It is believed that those supporting the illegal occupation are likely to seize the opportunity to reoccupy roads which have been now reopened to traffic." | |