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.