HK set for democracy protest
Organisers says 100,000 expected to attend pro-democracy march through city.
Since its return to Chinese rule on July 1, 1997 Hong Kong has largely retained its Western-style civil liberties, including press freedom and the right to hold public protests.
But its people still cannot directly elect the city’s chief executive or all legislative members.
Turnout for last year’s protest was relatively low because of a strong economy and a period of national pride in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.
But organisers say that with Hong Kong’s economy now in a slump and unemployment on the rise, many more people are expected to join the demonstration.
As part of this year’s march, hundreds of civil servants and government contract workers are set to protest as organised groups for the first time.
They are demanding better work conditions and pay – signs of public frustration that experts say could alarm Beijing.