Thousands in HK stage rain-hit march for democracy

Tens of thousands of protesters, some waving British imperial flags and denouncing Chinese "colonists", marched through torrential rain in Hong Kong Monday to clamour for universal suffrage on the 16th anniversary of the city's return to mainland rule. Tropical Storm Rumbia brought a drenching and strong winds to the march, now an annual outpouring of discontent directed at both China's communist government and the semi-autonomous territory's local leadership.The parade route from the city's Victoria Park to the skyscrapers of the Central district was a sea of umbrellas as well as banners -- bearing slogans that ranged from "Democracy now" to "Down with the Chinese Communist Party". A handful of marchers scuffled with police but no major trouble was reported, as curious tourists from mainland China stared at a licensed expression of popular anger that is unimaginable back home. Early Monday, China's national anthem blared as the national and Hong Kong flags were raised outside the harbourside Convention Centre to mark the city's transfer from British to Chinese rule in 1997.  A small but rowdy protest took place near the ceremony with demonstrators burning a photograph of Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying, who critics say is guilty of kowtowing to Beijing.On the march, one man carried a turtle made out of balloons to represent Leung, who stands accused of retreating inside his shell whenever trouble strikes. Protesters sang "Do You Hear the People Sing?" -- the rabble-rousing anthem from the musical and film "Les Miserables".  "The main goal of the rally is to push through for genuine democracy and to ask for Leung Chun-ying to step down," Jackie Hung of the Civil Human Rights Front, which organises the annual march, told AFP.The procession came after a survey published by the Hong Kong University found that only 33 percent of Hong Kongers took pride in being a Chinese national, the lowest level since 1998. Leung was appointed by a pro-Beijing committee last July, promising to improve governance and uphold the rule of law in the territory of seven million people. He is charged with overseeing the transition to universal suffrage to appoint the city's chief executive, which was promised by 2017, though critics say little or no progress has been made.  At the Convention Centre ceremony, Leung said implementing universal suffrage was a "major task" for the current government, but gave no timetable for public consultations.Yeung Yuk, a 28-year-old social worker who was among those marching, said: "People don't want 'elections with Chinese characteristics'. The government should start consultations now so Hong Kong can have genuine democracy." Leung also promised to address people's grievances, which include a widening income gap fuelled by an influx of mainland Chinese wealth.  Chief Secretary Carrie Lam told reporters that the government "will carefully hear the opinions expressed by residents". Police said 33,500 people left for Central from Victoria Park but Hong Kong media estimated about 50,000. The poor weather appeared to have dampened turnout from last year's estimate of 400,000 protesters, although that was swelled by anger at the presence in town of China's then president Hu Jintao.The widespread belief that Beijing meddles in Hong Kong's affairs, with the complicity of the local government, has grown since the handover and is expressed in ironic calls to return the city to British rule.  The sight of Hong Kong's colonial-era flag at last year's July 1 march incensed commentators on the mainland, but it was out in force again on Monday. One group of protesters marched with the flag aloft and a large banner saying "Chinese colonists get out!!" Around 40 people from pro- and anti-Beijing groups faced off at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) headquarters, exchanging expletives and insults. The anti-Beijing group held large Hong Kong colonial flags, a huge banner of Queen Elizabeth II and played "God Save the Queen". They later burned a PLA flag. Beijing said the ability of Hong Kongers to protest in force proved that the freedoms guaranteed under the handover agreement were alive and well. "This year, with so many people going on the streets to protest, shows that under the 'one country two systems', Hong Kong has a lot of freedom and rights," Zhang Xiaoming, who heads Beijing's Liaison Office in the city, told reporters.