Thousands demonstrate for full democracy

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.

Chanting "return power to the people," about 10,000 people set off from an urban park toward government headquarters.

The turnout was seen as a crucial barometer of public sentiment, exactly six months after 500,000 protesters took to the streets denouncing an anti-subversion bill proposed by the Hong Kong government, and backed by Beijing, as a threat to freedom.

The government's controversial proposal was shelved in October, and Hong Kong's economy another source of public discontent appears to be on the rebound.

March organisers said that by sustaining "people power" momentum, voters would put more pro-democracy candidates into office in September's legislative elections as they did in November's District Council contest.

Since coming under Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong has enjoyed Western-style freedoms unheard of on the mainland, but remains only partially democratic.

Hong Kong's top leader Tung Chee-hwa was picked by an 800-person elite committee which is loyal to Beijing.

Ordinary people choose only 24 of 60 sitting lawmakers, with the rest filled by special interest groups and the committee that selected Tung.

The territory's mini-constitution sets full democracy as an end goal, but provides no timetable.