Beijing eyes Hong Kong as 100,000 prepare for anti-government march

Jun 30, 2009, 4:22 GMT

   Hong Kong - Beijing officials were believed to be keeping a close watch on Hong Kong Tuesday ahead of an annual pro-democracy, anti-government march expected to draw a crowd of up to 100,000.

   Wednesday's march, on a public holiday marking the anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, may attract the biggest turnout for years because of the economic slump and growing dissatisfaction with Beijing-appointed leader Donald Tsang.

   Organizers of the protest say Beijing officials have been asking contacts in Hong Kong about the turnout and appeared concerned a huge crowd would undermine Tsang and embarrass China in a year of sensitive anniversaries.

   This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic and the 20th anniversary of the June 4 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, marked in Hong Kong with a candlelight vigil attended by an estimated 150,000 people.

   Domestic issues are expected to draw large crowds onto the streets for the July 1 demonstration with the economy floundering and civil servants unhappy at being asked to take a 5.8 per cent pay cut.

   Tsang angered some Hong Kong residents ahead of the June 4 anniversary when he indicated that most people in the city wanted to forget the massacre and concentrate on China's economic success in the years since.

   Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho said he had been approached by a 'middleman' close to the Beijing government after he said he believed 100,000 people would take part in Wednesday's demonstration.

   China's leaders were 'afraid they will lose face if many people hit the streets', said Ho, who said he based his estimate on the significant increase in inquiries from people about how to join the July 1 march.

   In 2003 and 2004, an estimated 500,000 people took to the streets for the marches, undermining and arguably bringing an end to the administration of Tsang's unpopular predecessor Tung Chee-hwa.

   Tsang himself will take part in alternative demonstrations planned by pro-China groups which are expected to draw tens of thousands of people.

   Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 but, unlike the rest of China, maintains freedom of speech and freedom to demonstrate under a 'one country-two systems' arrangement.