Democracy camp seeks new direction at Hong Kong protest march

Tens of thousands joined a pro-democracy march on July 1 on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, in what organisers described as an opportunity to work out the movement's next step as momentum wanes.

Crowds gathered in Victoria Park in the afternoon, many carrying yellow umbrellas -- a symbol of the democracy movement -- before marching to the government's offices in central Hong Kong.    

"The most important thing is to express disapproval to the Hong Kong and Chinese communist government for suppressing the freedoms of Chinese people and real elections for Hong Kong people," protester Wong Man-ying, 61, told AFP.
 
"Things are quickly transforming to fit a Chinese model," added office clerk Anna Cheung.
 
"We need Beijing to hear our voices."  

Organisers said said the turnout was 48,000, lower than in previous years after almost 12 months of rallies in the politically divided city, with campaigners admitting fatigue had set in.    

The police estimated that 19,650 people took part in the march.
 
Last year's march saw huge crowds gather as discontent surged over restrictions by Beijing on how Hong Kong chooses its next leader, and organisers said a record 510,000 attended.
 
The government's plan to allow the public to vote for the city's chief executive for the first time in 2017 was derided as "fake democracy" by the opposition as it stuck to Beijing's ruling that candidates must be vetted by a loyalist committee.
 
That ruling sparked mass street rallies for more than two months at the end of last year and the bill was finally voted down by pro-democracy lawmakers last month.
 
"Momentum has slowed down after the veto over political reform," said...