Hong Kong protesters fear loss of political freedom

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.

Witnesses and rally organisers said up to 400,000 took part in the demonstration, as police confirmed it was the biggest protest in Hong Kong since more than one million people rallied in the wake of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

"There are several hundred thousand people here," said Richard Tsoi, a spokesman for protest organisers the Civil Human Rights Front from the front of the march.

Carrying placards and chanting slogans, demonstrators of all agespeacefully vented their anger against the Article 23 law they say will curtail civil freedoms.

There is mounting fear the law could stifle freedom of speech and the free flow of information.

There are also concerns it will see an erosion of the "one country, two systems" policy under which Hong Kong was returned to China and which promises a high degree of autonomy for the territory for 50 years.

The majority of marchers were clad in black T-shirts to symbolise the death of Hong Kong freedoms, as they slowly made their way from the city's Victoria Park in sunny conditions.

Passengers on passing trams and buses waved flags and banners in support and joined in the cheers and jeers against Hong Kong's embattled chief executive Tung Chee-hwa.

When the front of the march arrived at the government offices, about 90 minutes after setting off, a small group of demonstrators were allowed to protest at the gates, but the rest were told by police and organisers to move on.

Later protestors shifted the focus of their anger from the Article 23 law to the chief executive, with chants of "Tung, step down."

"We're tired, we're angry, just step down" one popular message emblazoned across hundreds of t-shirts and posters appealed.