HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong today in a mass rally to demand full democracy by 2012.
Up to 7,000 democracy campaigners braved the blazing sun to march to the government headquarters, wielding banners and shouting 'Support universal suffrage, support it until the end.'
Around 5,000 had earlier gathered in a city-center park carrying umbrellas they opened to reveal the numbers '2012,' the year they want full democracy to be achieved in the territory.
Although the turnout was lower than the 10,000 organisers forecast, they said it was encouraging given the sweltering heat.
Currently, half of Hong Kong's 60 lawmakers are chosen directly, with the other half elected by business elites from various sectors. The chief executive is selected by a committee composed mostly of Beijing loyalists.
A three-month public consultation on political reforms in the former British colony expires on Wednesday, and democrats hoped the rally would drum up more support ahead of the deadline.
Organizers said 7,000 people took part in the march to the government headquarters, while police put the number at 4,600.
'We should have open elections and should not be like now when only a few hundred people are able to choose our chief executives. It's not fair for us,' said demonstrator Pang Kum-tim.
Hong Kong's former deputy leader Anson Chan, a prominent democrat who is running for a seat vacant after the death of pro-Beijing politician, made a brief appearance.
'It's good to see so many people here. This shows that Hong Kong people want to be heard and fight for democracy,' she said.
The Basic Law, the mini-constitution used to govern Hong Kong since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, provides for full democracy in the city. But it has yet to be introduced, with Beijing having final say.
Democrats have been urging the Chinese and local governments to set out a concrete timetable, and have called for full democracy by 2012.
The Hong Kong government said Sunday it was 'sincere and determined' about implementing universal suffrage according to the Basic Law and encouraged more people to express their views before the deadline.
It released the consultation document in July, offering several options on how the territory might elect its leaders and lawmakers in the future.
It suggests 2012 as the earliest possible date for the direct election of legislators, but also emphasizes that full democracy should only be introduced in a 'gradual and orderly' manner.
The government will assess the results of the consultation, which ends on Oct 10, before sending a proposal to Beijing.
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