HONG KONG leader Tung Chee-hwa huddled behind closed doors yesterday with three cabinet members amid intense speculation that the unpopular politician would soon quit with two years left in his term.

A record 1.7 million Hong Kongers turned out today for an election that sent a fresh contingent of pro-democracy opposition politicians to the legislature.

Voters in Hong Kong today turned out in large numbers for a legislative election, many venting anger at their leaders and hoping to hand pro-democracy opposition politicians unprecedented clout in the Chinese territory.

The people of Hong Kong voted today in elections that could give pro-democracy figures more clout than any time since China reclaimed the territory in July 1997 – following a campaign marred by scandal and alleged intimidation.

China lashed out at Britain today for criticising its decision to hold back on democracy in Hong Kong, a former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched through Hong Kong today, demanding full democracy and venting anger at China’s Communist leaders for denying them the right to directly elect their government.

Thousands of Hong Kong people marched today in an impassioned plea for full democracy mixed with anger at the territory’s unpopular leader.

Thousands marched through Hong Kong today to commemorate the slaughter of student activists by Chinese troops who broke up pro-democracy rallies in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

A top Chinese official accused Britain of introducing democracy near the end of its rule in Hong Kong to deliberately stir up conflict with Beijing and preserve its interests in the territory.

China has told Britain and the US to mind their own business over its refusal to allow full democracy for Hong Kong in the near future.

Hong Kong should move slowly on introducing more democracy in order to ensure China’s political stability, a former British colonial official said today.

Hong Kong’s electoral system should be reformed by the time his successor is chosen in 2007, the former colony’s Chinese leader said today, but he stopped short of calling for democracy.

A protest over Beijing’s hard line on Hong Kong political reforms turned violent today when police began removing demonstrators gathered outside government headquarters, setting off a fight that injured 12 people.

EXUBERANT explosions echoed across Beijing yesterday as Chinese people welcomed the Year of the Monkey, a time they hope brings wealth to a country that has made prosperity its official policy.

THOUSANDS of people marched through Hong Kong yesterday to demand full democracy in the former British colony in the biggest rally since a mass protest in July that threw the government into crisis.

Hundreds of people today demonstrated against Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa, fearing that he will appoint allies to local councils to offset the pro-government party’s losses at last month’s polls.

HONG KONG plunged deeper into crisis yesterday after the resignations of two top Cabinet ministers added fuel to demands for democratic change and put further pressure on leader Tung Chee-hwa.

A DOUBLE-decker bus packed with schoolchildren and commuters collided with a truck and plunged off a bridge in Hong Kong yesterday, killing at least 21 people and injuring 20 others.

THE watering down of reviled anti-subversion laws by Hong Kong’s government has done little to allay concerns, pro-democracy groups said yesterday, calling for the legislation to be postponed.

HUNDREDS of thousands of people marched in protest at anti-subversion legislation that many in this former British colony fear could erode political freedom six years after its return to Chinese rule.

THE World Health Organisation removed Hong Kong from its list of SARS-infected areas yesterday, but warned the territory to keep up its guard against future outbreaks that might put it back on the list.

THE SARS outbreak is “over its peak” around the world, including in the hardest-hit country, China, a World Health Organisation official said yesterday.

The worst of the Sars outbreak appears to be over in Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada, but the deadly virus is still spreading in China, the UN’s World Health Organisation warned today.

QUARANTINE measures appear to be paying off in Hong Kong’s fight against SARS and its leader voiced growing confidence about beating the disease. But experts said yesterday it’s unclear when the crisis will end.

Hong Kong has announced another six deaths from Sars today.

Thousands of volunteers in Hong Kong today began a massive cleaning campaign aimed at slowing the spread of SARS.

China today reported a new Sars death and warned officials not to hide cases of the disease, while leaders in hard-hit Hong Kong geared up for a massive clean-up targeting the territory’s back alleys where germs might fester.

HONG KONG’S hospital chief said yesterday he would not rule out asking Beijing to send doctors to the territory to help fight SARS, as the number of new infections climbed.

THE damage from a deadly mystery disease escalated in Hong Kong yesterday as health officials warned travellers to avoid the territory.

SCIENTISTS in Hong Kong yesterday said they had identified the virus behind a mystery pneumonia that has killed more than 50 people worldwide.

Hong Kong today ordered more than 1,000 people who may have been exposed to a mysterious disease to be quarantined.

With fireworks, prayers and lion dances, millions across Asia on Saturday welcomed in the Lunar New Year – the biggest holiday for Chinese communities worldwide.

THREE men yesterday agreed to surrender to the United States on charges of conspiring to trade drugs for anti-aircraft missiles they allegedly wanted to sell to the al-Qaida terrorists.

China’s President Jiang Zemin today marked Hong Kong’s first five years under Beijing’s rule by saying its capitalist ways are intact but that citizens should give more support to the mainland.