Over 500 protesters have been arrested in Hong Kong during a pro-democracy sit-in at the city’s business district.
The demonstrators were arrested for illegal assembly and obstructing police officers, Hong Kong police said.
The sit-in came after tens of thousands of protesters marched on Tuesday in what was described as the city’s largest democracy rally in a decade.
The annual rally, marking the day Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, was to demand full electoral freedom.
Organizers said turnout at the rally was 510,000, while police said about 98,600 took part during the peak of the march.
After the main march had ended, hundreds of protesters staged a sit-in in the city’s Central district.
Police said the sit-in was “unauthorized” and began removing some of the participants in the early hours of Wednesday.
Over 500 protesters have been arrested during Hong Kong annual rally
Some demonstrators linked arms in an attempt to stop police from moving them.
Police said a total of 511 demonstrators – 351 men and 160 women – were arrested in the operation to clear the area.
Speaking on Tuesday morning, Hong Kong leader CY Leung said that the government was trying hard to forge a consensus on political reform.
“Only by maintaining Hong Kong’s stability can we sustain our economic prosperity. Only by sustaining Hong Kong’s prosperity can we improve people’s livelihoods,” CY Leung said.
Analysts say Hong Kong faces divided views on the city’s democratic development, and growing tensions between activists and the Chinese government.
Pro-democracy activists want Hong Kong people to be able to elect the city’s leader, known as the chief executive.
China has said it will introduce universal suffrage for the city’s 2017 election – but wants a committee to approve the candidates.
In June, an unofficial referendum on how to choose Hong Kong’s next chief executive drew close to 800,000 votes.
The Hong Kong government said the 10-day referendum had no legal standing. The Chinese government has described the referendum as an “illegal farce”.
Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997 following a 1984 agreement between China and Britain.
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Hong Kong activists are organizing the largest pro-democracy protest in more than a decade.
The annual rally, which marks the day Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, will focus on pressuring Beijing for full electoral freedom, organizers said.
The rally is organized days after an unofficial referendum on how to choose the chief executive drew close to 800,000 votes.
The Hong Kong government said the 10-day poll had no legal standing.
Organizers expect more than half a million people to join the rally, which will kick off in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park at 03:00 and will head to the Central district.
Several campaign groups have also indicated that they will stage peaceful overnight vigils after the march.
More than half a million people are expected to join Hong Kong pro-democracy rally, which will kick off in Victoria Park
The rally in 2003 drew half a million people, who demonstrated against proposed anti-subversion laws which were later scrapped.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 17th anniversary of the former British colony’s return to China, Hong Kong leader CY Leung said that the government was trying hard to forge a consensus on political reform.
“Only by maintaining Hong Kong’s stability can we sustain our economic prosperity. Only by sustaining Hong Kong’s prosperity can we improve people’s livelihood,” CY Leung said.
Beijing has said it will hold elections for the role of chief executive in 2017, but the public will only have a choice of candidates selected by a nominating committee.
Campaigners want the public to be able to elect Hong Kong’s leader directly and believe that Beijing will use the committee to screen out candidates it disapproves of.
The unofficial referendum, organized by campaign group Occupy Central, allowed the public to decide which of three proposals – all of which involved allowing citizens to directly nominate candidates – to present to Beijing.
Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997 following a 1984 agreement between China and Britain.
China agreed to govern Hong Kong under the principle of “one country, two systems”, where the city would enjoy “a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs” for 50 years.
As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected.
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