What was the reason for 5 lakh people of Hong Kong to make a demonstration around the middle of 2003 ?
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Chief Executive Tung was the focus of anger for many protesters.
Chief Executive Tung was the focus of anger for many protesters.
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Hundreds of thousands in Hong Kong protest against a proposed national security law.
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Under the proposed legislation, anyone found guilty of acts of treason, sedition, secession or subversion against mainland China could be jailed for life. Treason: instigation of foreign invasion, assisting a public enemy at war with the People's Republic of China (PRC), or joining foreign armed forces at war with the PRC.
Secession: use of war, force or serious criminal means to split the country.
Subversion: use of war, force or serious criminal means to overthrow or intimidate the Central People's Government, or to disestablish the basic system of the state
Sedition: inciting others to commit treason, subversion or seccession, or inciting others to engage in violent public disorder that would seriously endanger the stability of the PRC.
HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong Tuesday in a landmark demonstration to voice their anger against a controversial proposed national security law.
The peaceful rally was the biggest in Hong Kong since its return to Chinese rule in 1997 and overshadowed official celebrations marking the sixth anniversary of the handover from British sovereignty.
"Power to the people!" and "Down with Tung!" were the chants as a massive crowd filled Hong Kong's streets during a 6 1/2 hour march against the anti-subversion bill as well as the leadership of Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.
Organizers were delighted with the turnout and said over 500,000 Hong Kongers turned out Tuesday, most wearing black and battling oppressive heat, to rally to the cause. Organizers had anticipated 100,000 demonstrators.
The swathe of protesters brought the center of Hong Kong to a halt, closing roads and overloading the underground transit network on a sweltering afternoon.
Police estimate around 350,000 were on the streets at the height of the demonstration, which began at 3:00 p.m. (0700 GMT) at the city's Victoria Park before a mammoth march to rally outside Hong Kong government headquarters.
Hong Kong -- often regarded as a territory of workaholics more concerned with economics than politics -- had not seen a protest on the scale of Tuesday's rally since 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Despite the massive turnout, protest organizers say Tuesday's demonstration was just the tip of the iceberg should the government fail to scrap the proposed law.
"If they are not listening this time, the next demonstration will be more hostile, the anger has been demonstrated. There may be riots in the future," opposition legislator Albert Chan told CNN.
Many of the marchers came from Hong Kong's normally apolitical middle class -- teachers, lawyers, bankers, business executives -- spurred into action by fear the new law will give the government similar powers to suppress dissent that exist in mainland China.