Thousands join Hong Kong democracy protest

THOUSANDS of protesters marched in Hong Kong yesterday to demand full democracy, fundamental rights and independence from China, in the face of what many see as a Communist Party clampdown on local freedoms.

Over the past year, countries such as the United States and Britain have expressed concerns about a number of incidents they say have undermined confidence in Hong Kong’s autonomy under Chinese rule, including the jailing of activists, a ban on a pro-independence political party and the de facto expulsion of a Western journalist.

The march, which drew more than 5,000 people, according to organisers, included calls to restart stalled democratic reforms and to fight “political repression” from Beijing.

“Looking back at the year that passed, it was a very bad year. The rule of law in Hong Kong is falling backwards,” said Jimmy Sham, one of the organisers.

The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997, with a promise of a high degree of autonomy and universal suffrage as an “ultimate aim”.

Around 100 independence activists joined the demonstration, holding up banners and chanting for the city to split from China, which considers Hong Kong to be an inalienable part of its territory and denounces “separatists” as a threat to national sovereignty.

“There will be continuous suppression of the Hong Kong independence movement, but the movement will grow stronger and stronger,” said Baggio Leung, an independence leader.

Last year, in an unprecedented move, Hong Kong authorities banned the Hong Kong National Party on national security grounds because of its pro-independence stance.