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Low turnout expected for HK's annual pro-democracy march
2005-06-30
HONG KONG - Hong Kong's new leader might get his first big break Friday since taking office last week: a low turnout at the annual pro-democracy protest held during the city's anniversary of its handover to China eight years ago.The street march drew about a half million people each time it was held during the past two years. But most believe that far fewer will turn up this year, largely because there are no pressing issues to bring the people out. The economy is also rebounding and Hong Kong's new leader, Donald Tsang, is more popular than his predecessor. Tsang, a veteran civil servant, took over from Tung Chee-hwa, a shipping tycoon many thought was too cozy with big business and out of touch with the common people. The July 1 march has been an annual tradition since 2003, when half a million people took to the streets against an anti-subversion bill they feared would threaten freedoms in this former British colony, which returned to China in 1997. They marched again last year to demand direct elections for Hong Kong's leader by 2007 and all lawmakers by 2008. Only half of Hong Kong's 60 lawmakers are directly elected, while the rest are filled by special interest groups. But Beijing rejected the demands and the push for full democracy began losing steam. Earlier this week, Tsang told lawmakers that political reform will be low on his list of priorities. He said government surveys showed that the public was more interested in the economy, jobs and livelihood issues like pollution and safer chicken slaughtering. Pro-democracy lawmakers argued that the survey failed to probe the public's desire for full democracy. Protesters organizers on Friday planned to hold a mock referendum on whether voters should be able to directly elect their leaders. AP
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