Hong Kong reasserts its 'people power'

"I didn't like Tung last year, and I still don't like him," says 19-year-old Dan Tan, who says that his father doesn't approve of his participation in the rally. "But this year I'm for universal suffrage. We need democracy."

A year ago, the marchers were largely clean-cut, white-collar professionals - a crowd called out by lawyers and ministers. This year's group included more working class - small shop owners, labor unions. The turnout Thursday indicates a broadening of ideas of freedom of expression and voting among the general public, says Rose Wu of Civil Human Rights Front, and a key organizer of the march.

People filed into Victoria Park near Causeway Bay for five hours, many wearing white, the Chinese color of mourning. Many sported umbrellas with the word "suffrage," cooled themselves with fans that read "power to the people," and shouted "Tung Che-hwa, please leave!" They carried signs that read "Democracy Road." Kids ran through the crowd with popsicles, and stewards handed out free water.

So hot was the day that marchers like student Shan Tang showed up on behalf of all his family. "We are four," he said. "We all want direct elections." Nurse Rebecca Lee came with her husband, "because ... Hong Kong deserves a better leader, and we need the power to change him."

One woman held a pink umbrella with five black balloons that she said represented other members of the family not willing to brave the near-100-degree heat and intense humidity.

The route out of the park was so congested that throngs barely crawled for blocks through a four-lane artery. By comparison, a crowd of 50,000 to 80,000 at a Tiananmen Square commemoration last month moved briskly.

The protest took place in an media atmosphere in which pro-democracy messages have been curtailed. Three popular radio hosts left after threats last month. A study released this week by the Hong Kong Journalists Association looked at the city's 14 leading newspapers from Jan. 28 to March 8 - a period corresponding with a "patriotism debate" introduced by Beijing. Of all headlines during that period, 55 percent supported the patriotism litmus test, while only 15 percent back the pro-democracy position.

One marcher said the news restrictions were troubling, and worried about "what they are not telling to us.... If my mind is not getting the truth, what do I know?"

Mainland officials say that while Hong Kong people are free to march, and those that do are not unpatriotic, no decisions have been made about whether march organizers are unpatriotic and thus unfit for office. One Beijing official argued that those seeking office in Hong Kong, "must not only love Hong Kong, they must love China.... They can't just say they love us. Our policy is not to listen to what you say, but to follow closely what you do."

Another official said: "We would prefer these marches don't take place. We think there is a more suitable way to express feelings. But it is [Hong Kong's] freedom. If they want the sun on their heads, they can have it."

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