Thousands in Hong Kong protest Beijing's interference

[steve2470]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Thousands of protestors marched to the mainland Chinese government's liaison office in Hong Kong on Sunday, demanding universal suffrage and protesting against Beijing's perceived interference in the territory's recent chief executive election.

Witnesses said police used pepper spray to disperse protestors gathered outside the liaison office after warning them not to break beyond barriers.

The city's seven million people have no say in who becomes their chief executive. Leung Chun-yin, who will take over from incumbent Donald Tsang on July 1, was chosen by an election committee of about 1,200 Hong Kong notables on March 25.

Leung beat a scandal-tainted rival, tycoon and former bureaucrat Henry Tang after a fraught campaign which will intensify pressure on China to keeps its promise to allow Hong Kong a direct leadership election in 2017.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/01/us-hongkong-protests-idUSBRE83007C20120401

[MADem]

1. This bears watching. nt

[DCBob]

2. So far the China "transition" in HK and also Macau has been fairly smooth.

I wonder if that is about to change.

[pschoeb]

3. There is no change

The Chief executive is no different than the old Governor of Hong Kong, who was appointed by the British Government, not elected by the people. So this has nothing to do with a right that was lost.

[DCBob]

4. except I suspect most HK residents dont trust the Chinese government.

and for good reason.