Financial Times (UK)

HK sees 400,000 protest over planned subversion law
Published: July 2 2003 5:00 | Last Updated: July 2 2003 5:00 

By Angela Mackay in Hong Kong

Hundreds of thousands of dissatisfied Hong Kong citizens took to the streets yesterday in a demonstration against proposed anti-subversion laws that turned into an unambiguous rebuke for the government's performance.

Official observers said it was the biggest crowd to demonstrate in Hong Kong since a march in 1989, when 1m people turned out to protest at the killing of hundreds of pro-democracy activists in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Organisers said they believed yesterday's protest was attended by about 400,000 people from across the community.

Estella Chow, a secretary based across the border in Shenzhen, took leave for the event: "I marched in 1989 when I was a student and I am back today because the government does not want to listen to our voices." She was accompanied by her 72-year-old mother who said she was afraid she might die before democracy was introduced to Hong Kong.

Lawyer Vincent Chan said: "I feel compelled to be here. The government is trying to push this law through without proper consultation and I object to the content."

Another protester who identified himself only as Y.K. said he had timed a business trip with the march, flying in from Los Angeles yesterday. "I marched on June 4 1989 for the right reason and this is another occasion when it is right to do so." he said.

The high turnout is being interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the administration of Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's chief executive.

"We now have the extraordinary situation where the new mainland administration is thought of more highly than the local team. I think we'll see Mr Tung either develop a health problem and bow out quietly or instigate a radical reorganisation of. .. his government structure," said Michael DeGolyer, director of Hong Kong Transition Project, an academic body that monitors civil rights.

The new legislation is likely to be passed by the Beijing-friendly legislature next Wednesday. Article 23 refers to the section under the basic law that calls on Hong Kong to enact laws for the territory's security. Citizens groups, lawyers, international chambers of commerce and others fear the bill is too restrictive, giving the government power to ban organisations deemed unfriendly to China or Hong Kong and allowing police sweeping search powers.