Deutsche Welle (Germany)

Hundreds of thousands demonstrate in Hong Kong
01.07.2003 18:00 UTC 

Around 400,000 people have taken to the streets of Hong Kong to protest against a proposed law curbing press and free speech freedoms. The anti-subversion bill due to be passed next week would target subversion, treason and other acts against the state. The protests coincide with the sixth anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to mainland China. Demonstrators reportedly burned the communist flag as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao tried to allay fears saying the territory's freedoms would be maintained. It's the biggest street protest since 1989 when around one million people demonstrated against the Tiananmen Square massacre.