Defiant protesters march in Hong Kong
Police say 9,800 demonstrated, lowest estimate since 2003
Hong Kong’s annual prodemocracy protest saw one of the lowest turnouts in history, as thousands braved sweltering heat to protest against Beijing’s tightening grip over the city yesterday, the 21st anniversary of its return to Chinese rule.
Organisers said 50,000 protested, in one of their lowest estimates since the annual march started in 2003. Police said 9,800 attended at the peak — the lowest figure on their record.
Hong Kong’s opposition has lost much steam in the past year, which saw elected prodemocracy legislators disqualified and some of the most prominent activists jailed.
Still, the mood was defiant yesterday, with one of the most common chants being “Hong Kong people, keep going.”
Protesters included elderly people in wheelchairs, couples with sleeping toddlers and young residents, some of whom waved banners saying: “End one party rule; Against the fall of Hong Kong.”
“Now the government is already siding with the Communist Party. Can Hong Kong see any universal suffrage in 20 or 30 year’s time? I don’t think so,” said 13-year-old Joanna Wen, who was accompanied by her father.
Resentment toward China
Hong Kong is a former British colony that was returned to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula guaranteeing it a high degree of autonomy and the promise of eventual universal suffrage.
Beijing’s refusal to grant full democracy to Hong Kong triggered massive street protests in 2014 and deepened resentment toward China’s perceived growing encroachment on the territory, where its influence in nearly every facet of life has increased.
Hundreds of police were deployed yesterday as some demonstrators marched with yellow umbrellas, a symbol of democratic activism in the city.
In response to the protest, the government said in a statement that “chanting slogans which disrespect ‘one country’ ... was not in line with Hong Kong’s overall interests and would undermine its development.”
At a ceremony early yesterday to mark the handover anniversary, chief executive Carrie Lam asserted that the “one, country, two systems” framework remains intact under her watch.
Tougher stance
Lam took over as governor of Hong Kong a year ago, pledging at a ceremony attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping to be accountable to both Beijing and Hong Kong.
“Without fear, we correctly deal with our relationship with the central government. And we promote a stronger understanding of the constitution, the Basic Law, and national security in all sectors,” Lam said at a morning cocktail reception yesterday.
Also present at the ceremony were the three former Chief Executives — Tung Cheehwa, Donald Tsang and Leung Chun-ying, as well as mainland officials. While Hong Kong activists push for greater democracy, Beijing has been taking a tougher stance on the city, and some Hong Kong residents say the old border that has defined the city’s autonomy is slowly withering away.