Thousands turn out for New Year's Day protests in H.K

Asian Economic News, Jan 10, 2005

HONG KONG, Jan. 1 Kyodo

Up to 50,000 people turned out for various protests in Hong Kong on Saturday to vent their grievances.

The turnout was dampened by last weekend's catastrophic tsunami in southern Asia, with some groups canceling their actions.

The Democratic Party, which had planned to hold a march to condemn nepotism between the government and business tycoons, postponed its event to Jan. 16. It has instead teamed up with other groups to stage a weeklong donation drive for the tsunami victims.

Around 40,000 to 50,000 protesters led by several stockbroker associations, including the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Industry Staff Union, marched in the central business district.

Police estimate around 6,000 participated.

They accused some politicians of tarnishing Hong Kong's reputation as a financial hub by scrapping the listing of a US$3 billion real estate investment trust over a pending lawsuit.

Chow Fung-ting, a 62-year-old housewife, said, ''I came out not only because of the (canceled) listing plan but also because I can't stand those lawmakers who oppose everything about the government.''

Another 200-strong protest organized by legislator and unionist Lee Cheuk-yan proceeded to the government headquarters in Central district to demand the implementation of a minimum wage and maximum working hours.

Elsewhere, around 60 protesters joined legislator Leung Kwok-hung to march from Causeway Bay to Central to press for universal suffrage and to denounce nepotism between the government and the business sector.

It has become almost a ritual for Hong Kong people to take to the streets on New Year's Day since the former British colony returned to China's sovereignty in 1997.

Handpicked by Beijing, the city's chief executive Tung Chee-hwa and his Cabinet have been blamed for a series of administrative missteps and stalled political reforms.