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Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters return to streets | Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters return to streets |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Thousands of pro-democracy activists have returned to the streets of Hong Kong for their first big rally since mass protests last year. | |
A large police presence was in force to deter demonstrators from taking over key areas of Hong Kong. | |
But protesters did not carry out 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. |
Pro-democracy legislators - who hold about 40% of the seats in the Legislative Council - strongly oppose the move. | |
Protester Julia Choi told the AP news agency that pro-democracy candidates "would not even be nominated, so this is pseudo-universal suffrage, we do not have the rights to elect who we want". | |
March organisers say that 13,000 people took part in the rally, but police say that it was just over half that figure. | |
The protesters were watched by about 2,000 police officers as soon as they began their march through the city's upmarket shopping and financial districts. | |
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. A large banner caricaturing Hong Kong's Chief Executive CY Leung read: "Reject fake democracy, we want real universal suffrage." | |
'Wake-up call' | 'Wake-up call' |
Tens of thousands of demonstrators had taken to the streets in September last year, demanding political change. | 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 and people had now woken up. | |
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." |