DHARAMSHALA, June 1: Tens of thousands of pro-democracy marchers filled the streets of Hong Kong Sunday, as the former British colony marked 15 years since the return to Chinese rule.
The protests rallied around the swearing-in ceremony of Leung Chun-ying, a millionaire property consultant considered close to China's communist rulers, as the chief executive from Chinese President Hu Jintao.
During the ceremony, a member of the crowd interrupted Hu's speech, calling for a condemnation of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and an end to one-party rule in China.
The man was quickly bundled out by security.
Outside the venue, more than 100,000 Hong Kong citizens beat drums and waved flags sending a defiant message to China's leader that the city demands full and unfettered democracy in 2017.
The demonstrators, carrying placards calling for "One person one vote" and chanting "Power to the people” also expressed their unhappiness at record property prices, an increasing wealth gap, a lack of the right to choose their leader and a string of political scandals.
"We're fighting for justice. We're fighting for the rule of law," BBC quoted a protestor as saying. "The Chinese government is interfering with the workings of the Hong Kong government, and that's not right."
"We are fighting for the right to vote. It should have happened by now."
Currently, a so-called electoral college of 1,200 business leaders and other influential citizens, mostly loyal to Beijing, is responsible for selecting the business hub’s leader.
According to a recent University of Hong Kong poll, public "negative" feelings towards the Chinese government are at a record high.
"Hong Kong's human rights record has backtracked," Reuters quoted one of the protestors as saying. "Freedom of speech is shrinking and reporters are facing more obstacles."
"Hong Kong has become much worse off," Eric Lai of the Civil Human Rights Front told the marchers. "Our rights are under serious threat."
Back in China, mainland authorities censored parts of CNN's broadcasts on the protests during Hu's visit.
Leung replaces Donald Tsang, who took office in 2005.
Source: Phayul.com
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