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| Hong Kong marchers demand China uphold democracy pledge | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people have marched in Hong Kong to demand China honour promises to hold fully democratic elections in 2017. | |
| Crowds braved pouring rain for the annual pro-democracy rally, on the 16th anniversary of the former British colony's handover to China. | |
| Marchers called for universal suffrage and criticised the leadership of the current chief executive, CY Leung. | |
| Hong Kong's top official is currently chosen by a group of 1,200 electors. | Hong Kong's top official is currently chosen by a group of 1,200 electors. |
| Earlier Mr Leung said that the Hong Kong government was committed to introducing full democracy by 2017. | |
| Speaking at a ceremony on Monday, he described "implementation of universal suffrage for the chief executive election in 2017" as a "major task" for the Hong Kong government. | |
| "We hope that people holding different views can set aside their differences and seek consensus as far as possible in an accommodating, pragmatic and peaceful manner," he added. | "We hope that people holding different views can set aside their differences and seek consensus as far as possible in an accommodating, pragmatic and peaceful manner," he added. |
| He said consultations on deciding the scope of the elections would begin "at an appropriate time". | |
| However, pro-democracy activists say progress on reform has been slow and fear interference in the nomination process from Beijing. | However, pro-democracy activists say progress on reform has been slow and fear interference in the nomination process from Beijing. |
| The BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says they want a commitment that the nomination process will be fair, and that candidates not perceived as loyal to the Chinese government will stand a chance. | |
| "The right to elect a chief executive is a basic political right, which we have been denied for many years," said pro-democracy lawmaker Albert Ho. "We can't afford to wait any longer." | |
| Hong Kong currently has a complex voting system with only some seats in the Legislative Council chosen by the public. Mr Leung was elected last year by a small group of electors largely loyal to Beijing, our correspondent reports. | |
| Pop concert | Pop concert |
| Organisers said they expected up to 400,000 people to take part in the march. | Organisers said they expected up to 400,000 people to take part in the march. |
| Protesters gathered in Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island, before starting the march to Central, Hong Kong's main financial district. | Protesters gathered in Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island, before starting the march to Central, Hong Kong's main financial district. |
| Two hours after the rally had started, there were still new protesters entering the park to join the march, Hong Kong media reported. | Two hours after the rally had started, there were still new protesters entering the park to join the march, Hong Kong media reported. |
| Participants could be heard shouting "CY Leung step down" and "protect Hong Kong". | |
| One protester, James Lam, said: "I am here to fight for democracy and freedom. If Hong Kong people did not come out to fight for our freedom, we would lose it in the future." | |
| Some also held up posters calling for the release of Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo, who is in jail in mainland China on subversion charges. | Some also held up posters calling for the release of Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo, who is in jail in mainland China on subversion charges. |
| In an indication of the level of anti-China sentiment among some protesters, a number of participants held up Hong Kong's colonial flag, which was used prior to 1997, when the city was a British colony. | |
| In addition to demanding universal suffrage, protesters are also rallying against high property prices and income inequality. | |
| The march took place on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China in 1997. | |
| A pro-government rally and a pop concert were also being held on 1 July, which is a public holiday in Hong Kong. Some retailers also offered major city-wide discounts on Monday. | |
| Critics have described these as attempts to draw people away from the pro-democracy march. | Critics have described these as attempts to draw people away from the pro-democracy march. |
| The demonstration has become an annual event since 2003, when 500,000 protesters turned out in opposition to a proposed national security bill and the economic downturn. | |
| The protest contributed to then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa resigning the following year. | The protest contributed to then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa resigning the following year. |
| Hong Kong is governed under the principle of "one country, two systems", under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the British handover. | |