Thousands in HK protest Chinese rule

[On the Road]

HONG KONG, China (AP) -- About 20,000 angry citizens marched Sunday to Beijing's representative office in Hong Kong, demanding the right to choose their government democratically and calling on Hong Kong's unpopular leader to quit. People from many walks of life turned out to protest against a ruling by China's most powerful legislative committee that Beijing must give advance approval to any changes in the way Hong Kong's leader and legislature are selected.

After a brief standoff with police, the demonstrators were allowed to file past the rear entrance of the Chinese government's liaison office, dropping off boxes of letters that urged Beijing to reverse its ruling and allow universal suffrage. A small group later staged a sit-in.

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The demonstrators contend that instead of interpreting the law, Beijing had muscled in and amended it without consulting Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government issued a statement defending Beijing's move, and saying it had noted the public concern and would "continue to make use of different channels to explain" the situation.

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Ordinary voters choose some lawmakers and will directly elect 30 of the 60 seats in the Legislative Council in September, up from 24 last time. The rest are picked by special interest groups that tend to side with Beijing and big business.


Protesters raise inflatable figures of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa during the demonstration.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/04/11/hongkong.protest.ap/index.html