Thousands demonstrate against Beijing’s alleged interference in Hong Kong politics
Pro-democracy activists march during a protest denouncing the government’s voting policy in Hong Kong on Apr. 1. It was in the first demonstration since Leung Chun-ying, 57, was elected as Hong Kong’s next chief executive by a 1,200-strong election committee packed with pro-Beijing elites.
Thousands of people have marched to the office of the Chinese government's representative in Hong Kong, protesting against Beijing's alleged interference in the recent selection of Leung Chun-yin as chief executive.
Organizers estimated that 15,000 people attended the rally, but police say the crowd peaked at 5,300, Reuters reports.
The news agency says those attended were opposed the selection of Hong Kong's leader by an election committee of about 1,200 Hong Kong notables rather than by universal suffrage.
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AFP describes how thousands of people holding banners and chanting slogans such as "One person, one vote" and "Leung step down" paraded through the streets.
It says that police guarding the office used pepper spray to push back protesters, and turned a fire extinguisher on one person trying to set a Hong Kong flag on fire.
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Sunday's rally was the major demonstration since Leung Chun-ying was chosen a week ago after winning 689 of 1,132 votes cast by the committee that Associated Press says was "packed with Beijing loyalists".
"Beijing blatantly interfered in our election," one protesters told AFP. "He was not chosen by the seven million Hong Kong people, he's chosen merely by 689 pro-Beijing elitists."
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