Hong Kong democracy protest: Half a million rally against Beijing
- 9 years ago
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As many as half a million residents reportedly took to Hong Kong's streets demanding universal suffrage to mark the 17th anniversary of the city's handover to China on Tuesday.
Huge crowds began to gather around central Victoria Park and surrounding subway stations around midday. Unphased by sweltering heat, they braved temperatures in the high-80's and humidity as high as 94% in support of free and fair democratic elections in 2017 to select the territory's next chief executive.
The throngs began to march at 3:30 p.m. and despite it beginning to rain, people continued to pour in.
Local police say some 90,000 people took part in protest, but according to its organizers, as many as 510,000 took to the streets.
The figure, if true, exceeds the city's previous record set in 2003, when 500,000 people took part in protests opposing a Beijing-backed anti-subversion bill.
Protesters burned white paper books, symbolizing Beijing authoritative reports, along the streets and performed hand puppet shows mocking the city's top leader, Leung Chun-ying, implying the Chief Executive is a pawn of the nation's Communist Party.
A group of demonstrators even lugged out a coffin meant to represent the death of Hong Kong's democracy.
The masses congested the city's narrow sidewalks, but authorities nonetheless refused to allow them to march along the motorway.
Some who attempted to cross roadblocks were detained by the police and a number of minor clashes between demonstrators and the authorities broke out throughout the day.
While the protests took place, Leung shed emotional tears at the 17th annual celebration of Hong Kong's handover to China.
Noting Hong Kong's status as a diverse city, he stressed that it was normal for its residents to demonstrate
Check out our Android app: http://goo.gl/PtT6VD
Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f
-------------------------------------------------------------
As many as half a million residents reportedly took to Hong Kong's streets demanding universal suffrage to mark the 17th anniversary of the city's handover to China on Tuesday.
Huge crowds began to gather around central Victoria Park and surrounding subway stations around midday. Unphased by sweltering heat, they braved temperatures in the high-80's and humidity as high as 94% in support of free and fair democratic elections in 2017 to select the territory's next chief executive.
The throngs began to march at 3:30 p.m. and despite it beginning to rain, people continued to pour in.
Local police say some 90,000 people took part in protest, but according to its organizers, as many as 510,000 took to the streets.
The figure, if true, exceeds the city's previous record set in 2003, when 500,000 people took part in protests opposing a Beijing-backed anti-subversion bill.
Protesters burned white paper books, symbolizing Beijing authoritative reports, along the streets and performed hand puppet shows mocking the city's top leader, Leung Chun-ying, implying the Chief Executive is a pawn of the nation's Communist Party.
A group of demonstrators even lugged out a coffin meant to represent the death of Hong Kong's democracy.
The masses congested the city's narrow sidewalks, but authorities nonetheless refused to allow them to march along the motorway.
Some who attempted to cross roadblocks were detained by the police and a number of minor clashes between demonstrators and the authorities broke out throughout the day.
While the protests took place, Leung shed emotional tears at the 17th annual celebration of Hong Kong's handover to China.
Noting Hong Kong's status as a diverse city, he stressed that it was normal for its residents to demonstrate