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Latest Demonstration Aimed at Communist Leaders to Allow Democracy
By Philip P. Pan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, January 1, 2004; 1:46 PM
HONG KONG, Jan. 1 -- Tens of thousands of shouting, sign-waving protesters marched from Hong Kong's Victoria Park to the city's main government building on New Year's Day, the latest in a series of mass demonstrations aimed at persuading China's Communist leaders to allow full democracy in this former British colony.
The march, which organizers said drew 100,000 people, five times more than they expected, was the largest protest in Hong Kong since July 1, when a half-million people filled the streets, embarrassed the city's Beijing-backed government and forced it to abandon a stringent anti-subversion bill favored by the Chinese leadership.
Police said about 37,000 people gathered in the park at the height of the rally Thursday and said many others participated in the orderly, two-mile procession through downtown Hong Kong, which was crowded with holiday shoppers.
Leaders of the pro-democracy movement said they were pleased by the turnout but acknowledged that it may prove increasingly difficult to maintain the momentum of their campaign. Public anger at Hong Kong's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, though still intense, has subsided somewhat since he backed down on the security bill and the city's economy has begun to recover from a deep recession.
"Of course, the people now are not as angry as a half-year ago," said Richard Tsoi, who helped organize both Thursday's march and the demonstration in July. He said residents in July felt a sense of urgency because of the impending passage of the security bill, while the push for democratic reforms in Hong Kong will be a long, drawn-out battle.
Hong Kong's constitution, signed by China and Britain when the territory was handed back to Beijing in 1997, permits direct elections of the city's chief executive in 2007 and of the legislature in 2008. But the Chinese government would have to approve the change, as would the chief executive and two-thirds of the Legislative Council.
The city's pro-democracy opposition argues that Tung should begin drafting new election legislation now to ensure there is enough time to persuade everyone to sign on to it. But both Tung and his superiors in Beijing have shown no interest in moving quickly on the issue, while many of the city's wealthy tycoons have argued that Hong Kong people are not ready for democracy.
"Many citizens took part in the procession today. We will listen carefully to their aspirations," Tung said in a written statement. But he added, "Hong Kong is a pluralistic society, and there are differing views on the pace of constitutional development."
March organizers said they hoped Tung would respond to their demands when he delivers his annual policy speech next Wednesday. If he does not, the organizers said they would begin planning further protests, including a major one on the anniversary of the July 1 demonstrations.
"The year 2004 is very critical," Tsoi said. "Today's march is just the start of this year's campaign . . . We very much hope Beijing's new leaders can continue to listen to the concerns and views of the Hong Kong people and respect our wish for democracy."
As in previous marches, the protesters appeared to represent a broad cross-section of Hong Kong society and were remarkably orderly, following directions from police and leaving the park where they had gathered almost entirely free of litter. But there was nothing subdued about their message. The most popular chant of the day was, "Tung Che-hwa, step down!"
"We want a government that listens to the people," said Apple Chen, 28, an environmental activist who made the point by wearing large paper cut-out ears on her head. "This government doesn't listen."
As the crowd sang a Cantonese version of "We Shall Overcome," Chen lifted up a red banner criticizing Tung for appointing 102 pro-government candidates, mostly businessmen not active in civic affairs, to the city's local district councils on Saturday.
Pro-democracy candidates largely defeated their pro-Beijing counterparts in the local elections on Nov. 23, but Tung defied public opinion and exercised his power to appoint extra people to the councils.
Tung himself was appointed by Beijing in 1997 and was re-elected without opposition last year by an 800-member committee named by China. In addition, business and professional groups select 36 of the 60 members of the Legislative Council, while direct elections have been allowed only for the other 24.
In September, though, half of the legislature will be directly elected. The pro-democracy opposition has already begun a voter registration drive and announced plans to use the election to put greater pressure on Tung and the Chinese government.
China responded to the July 1 demonstrations by taking a more active role in the city's affairs, sending new personnel and granting more economic benefits to the territory. For the first time, a member of the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee was named to coordinate Hong Kong policy: Zeng Qinghong, a top ally of the former president, Jiang Zemin, who appointed Tung.
Some pro-Beijing politicians have argued that the confrontational tactics of the democracy activists -- and their success at winning elections -- has eroded the high degree of autonomy China granted the territory in 1997 and made Beijing more nervous about approving political reform here.
But Audrey Eu, a pro-democracy legislator who was handing out brochures during the march, disagreed. "I think the opposite is true," she said. "If we sit here and do nothing, Beijing is not going to do anything on democratic reform."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47517-2004Jan1.html
By Philip P. Pan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, January 1, 2004; 1:46 PM
HONG KONG, Jan. 1 -- Tens of thousands of shouting, sign-waving protesters marched from Hong Kong's Victoria Park to the city's main government building on New Year's Day, the latest in a series of mass demonstrations aimed at persuading China's Communist leaders to allow full democracy in this former British colony.
The march, which organizers said drew 100,000 people, five times more than they expected, was the largest protest in Hong Kong since July 1, when a half-million people filled the streets, embarrassed the city's Beijing-backed government and forced it to abandon a stringent anti-subversion bill favored by the Chinese leadership.
Police said about 37,000 people gathered in the park at the height of the rally Thursday and said many others participated in the orderly, two-mile procession through downtown Hong Kong, which was crowded with holiday shoppers.
Leaders of the pro-democracy movement said they were pleased by the turnout but acknowledged that it may prove increasingly difficult to maintain the momentum of their campaign. Public anger at Hong Kong's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, though still intense, has subsided somewhat since he backed down on the security bill and the city's economy has begun to recover from a deep recession.
"Of course, the people now are not as angry as a half-year ago," said Richard Tsoi, who helped organize both Thursday's march and the demonstration in July. He said residents in July felt a sense of urgency because of the impending passage of the security bill, while the push for democratic reforms in Hong Kong will be a long, drawn-out battle.
Hong Kong's constitution, signed by China and Britain when the territory was handed back to Beijing in 1997, permits direct elections of the city's chief executive in 2007 and of the legislature in 2008. But the Chinese government would have to approve the change, as would the chief executive and two-thirds of the Legislative Council.
The city's pro-democracy opposition argues that Tung should begin drafting new election legislation now to ensure there is enough time to persuade everyone to sign on to it. But both Tung and his superiors in Beijing have shown no interest in moving quickly on the issue, while many of the city's wealthy tycoons have argued that Hong Kong people are not ready for democracy.
"Many citizens took part in the procession today. We will listen carefully to their aspirations," Tung said in a written statement. But he added, "Hong Kong is a pluralistic society, and there are differing views on the pace of constitutional development."
March organizers said they hoped Tung would respond to their demands when he delivers his annual policy speech next Wednesday. If he does not, the organizers said they would begin planning further protests, including a major one on the anniversary of the July 1 demonstrations.
"The year 2004 is very critical," Tsoi said. "Today's march is just the start of this year's campaign . . . We very much hope Beijing's new leaders can continue to listen to the concerns and views of the Hong Kong people and respect our wish for democracy."
As in previous marches, the protesters appeared to represent a broad cross-section of Hong Kong society and were remarkably orderly, following directions from police and leaving the park where they had gathered almost entirely free of litter. But there was nothing subdued about their message. The most popular chant of the day was, "Tung Che-hwa, step down!"
"We want a government that listens to the people," said Apple Chen, 28, an environmental activist who made the point by wearing large paper cut-out ears on her head. "This government doesn't listen."
As the crowd sang a Cantonese version of "We Shall Overcome," Chen lifted up a red banner criticizing Tung for appointing 102 pro-government candidates, mostly businessmen not active in civic affairs, to the city's local district councils on Saturday.
Pro-democracy candidates largely defeated their pro-Beijing counterparts in the local elections on Nov. 23, but Tung defied public opinion and exercised his power to appoint extra people to the councils.
Tung himself was appointed by Beijing in 1997 and was re-elected without opposition last year by an 800-member committee named by China. In addition, business and professional groups select 36 of the 60 members of the Legislative Council, while direct elections have been allowed only for the other 24.
In September, though, half of the legislature will be directly elected. The pro-democracy opposition has already begun a voter registration drive and announced plans to use the election to put greater pressure on Tung and the Chinese government.
China responded to the July 1 demonstrations by taking a more active role in the city's affairs, sending new personnel and granting more economic benefits to the territory. For the first time, a member of the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee was named to coordinate Hong Kong policy: Zeng Qinghong, a top ally of the former president, Jiang Zemin, who appointed Tung.
Some pro-Beijing politicians have argued that the confrontational tactics of the democracy activists -- and their success at winning elections -- has eroded the high degree of autonomy China granted the territory in 1997 and made Beijing more nervous about approving political reform here.
But Audrey Eu, a pro-democracy legislator who was handing out brochures during the march, disagreed. "I think the opposite is true," she said. "If we sit here and do nothing, Beijing is not going to do anything on democratic reform."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47517-2004Jan1.html
