Tens of thousands march for full democracy in Hong Kong
11:52:39 EST Dec 4, 2005
HELEN LUK
HONG KONG (AP) - Pressure mounted for Hong Kong and Beijing leaders to respond to calls for full democracy in this Chinese territory as tens of thousands of protesters marched Sunday, demanding the right to pick their leaders.
Organizers said the massive protest drew 250,000 people - far exceeding analysts' forecast of between 50,000 and 100,000. But police put the turnout at 63,000.
Pro-democracy lawmakers and some protesters gathered outside the government's headquarters after the march. They demanded Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang to immediately respond to calls for a roadmap specifying when and how Hong Kong can have universal suffrage, promised as an eventual goal under the territory's mini-constitution.
"I can't think of anywhere else in the world that you can have such large number of people turning out in such a peaceful manner to ask for something which is of their own right," said Ronny Tong, a lawmaker and march organizer. "Any responsible government owe it to themselves to respond positively to what happened today."
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http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/051204/w120418.htmlI'm proud of the Hong Kong people. Fight for democracy. :)