Asia-Pacific News
Protests silenced as Olympic torch is cheered in Hong Kong
May 2, 2008, 12:19 GMT
Chinese swimmer Sze Hang-yu waves as she holds Olympic torch on the dragon boat during the Olympic torch relay in Hong Kong, China, 02 March 2008. It is the the first relay of the torch on Chinese territory with 120 torchbearers to run in the 25-km, which will be marshaled by 3,000 police. EPA/YM YIK EPA
Hong Kong - Anti-China protestors complained of being threatened and pushed aside as patriotic, flag-waving crowds cheered the Olympic torch through Hong Kong Friday.
Large groups of pro-Beijing supporters dressed in red surrounded small pockets of demonstrators and one girl student carrying a Tibetan flag was whisked away by police allegedly for her own safety.
The mood was overwhelmingly pro-China among the crowd of thousands greeting the torch on its first appearance back on Hong Kong soil after its troubled world.
Police said there were no arrests as the relay came to an end after almost six hours in the city of 6.9 million although some protestors complained of being removed from the route by officers.
Student Christina Chan, 21, was taken away by police after angry confrontations with members of the crowd as she wrapped a Tibetan flag around her body.
As officers bundled her into a van, she told reporters: 'I don't want to go. I just want to peacefully express my views but people don't respect my right to do that.'
Another group of protestors were led away in a police cordon when they were surrounded by around 100 angry members of the crowd, shouting abuse and shoving them.
Veteran pro-democracy legislator Lee Cheuk Yan, who led the protestors, said: 'Hong Kong is a pluralistic society and we should respect each other's right to express our views.'
Despite heavy morning rain, large crowds lined the streets from the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui shopping district to see the torch begin its its 33-kilometre route starting at 10 am (0200 GMT).
A campaign by pro-Beijing groups in the past fortnight saw China and Hong Kong flags, badges and free T-shirts handed out to people across the city to welcome the Olympic torch.
The first torchbearer was windsurfing Olympic gold medallist Lee Lai-Shan, who was handed the torch by Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed chief executive, Donald Tsang.
Tsang described the relay - which had been dogged by anti-China protests in London, Paris and other cities - as 'a trail of unity and peace, for all people, of all nations.'
In a speech at the end of the event he said: 'Today's relay was truly a journey of harmony. Every member of our community who defied the rain and took part played an indispensable role in creating this ocean of red that has washed over Hong Kong today.'
Hong Kong immigration officials have turned away a number of overseas protestors flying into the city in the past week to join in anti-China demonstrations.
Hong Kong was a British colony for 156 years before reverting to Chinese rule in 1997 under a 'one country, two systems' arrangement guaranteeing freedoms denied elsewhere in China.
© Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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FunnyMay 3rd, 2008 - 07:06:16
How a bunch of stupid little white people get all afraid of a rising CHINA.
In matter of fact it is strange. But they are gone have to get use to it, because CHINA will continue to rise with many more positive things to happen this year and the years to come for CHINA and her friends.
Trust me (or not) but there is NOT a damn thing western imperialists can do. For example, they can support the dalai clique all they want from now till eternity at the end of the day Tibet Autonomous Region will still be part of the People's Republic of China.
And I'll tell you all why..............
The funniest thing is that the majority of ethnic Tibetans living in China want to remain Chinese citizens and want Tibet to remain part of China. So not only the majority of all of China's citizens, but the majority of ethnic Tibetans in China want Tibet to remain with China. That is the EDUCATED ethnic Tibetans want NO part of those separatists. They see their future within China and with One China.
To come back to my earlier comment about how a bunch of white people are scared of a rapidly developing China is that for the past two years now they have tried to blame China for everything under the sun. I expect that trend to continue, but.....you white boys have got to come with something more substantial cause up to now we haven't even broken a sweat.
The beautiful thing is that we CHINESE around the world will continue to smile and focus our energies on positivity, while you bai guis can be consumed with negativity and hatred all you like. In the end it will drag you down you'll see.
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