Marchers in Hong Kong call for democracy

Friday, January 2, 2004

HONG KONG -- Tens of thousands of protesters marched peacefully Thursday to push for full democracy in this former British colony, echoing a huge rally in July that threw the government into crisis. Organizers proclaimed the latest demonstration a success and said it showed Hong Kong's "people power" movement was very much alive. "We have made history again!" said rally spokesman Richard Tsoi, who estimated that more than 100,000 people had taken part in the march from an urban park to the government headquarters. Police said as many as 37,000 people were at the park when the rally started, but acknowledged the figure was probably higher because more people were involved in other stages of the protest.

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