Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong protests

By Eva Cheng

Three groups of activists marched and rallied for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong on July 1, the first anniversary of the territory's return to China.

Under the banner of the Human Rights Alliance, more than 100 people from 30 activist groups took part in a rally and march pressing for 11 demands, which included the establishment of minimum wage, eradication of discriminations, women's rights, full democratic elections, democratisation of Hong Kong's constitution and the repeal of subversion legislation.

Another coalition, consisting of April 5th Action Group, Don't Forget June 4 and the People's Constitutionalist Society, clashed with police near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which they tried to approach in order that their chants could be heard by the visiting Chinese president, Jiang Zemin. A woman protester was arrested but later released.

The second coalition featured their demands around the massacre of pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen in June 1989, demanding that Li Peng, the 1989 premier and currently head of the parliament, and Jiang Zemin step down. They carried a coffin marked with the words "The regime of butchers stinks forever".

The third group, the Hong Kong Alliance, also featured the Tiananmen massacre in its protest near the Convention Centre but was also stopped by the police. According to the Hong Kong Voice of Democracy, several members of the alliance who recently won Hong Kong's legislative council election went to join the welcome dinner for Jiang after taking part in the protest.

On June 21, more than 200 people joined a demonstration organised by 15 non-government organisations in the central business district of Hong Kong to protest against rising unemployment.

From GLW issue 325