Thousands of protesters marched in Hong Kong for a pro-democracy rally in a bid to demand that China upholds promise of fully democratic elections in 2017.
The marchers demanded for universal suffrage in Hong Kong and criticized the leadership of C Y Leung who said that implementation of universal suffrage for the chief executive election in 2017 is a major task for the Hong Kong government, BBC reports.
According to the report, Leung further said that people holding different views should set aside their differences and seek consensus as far as possible in an accommodating, pragmatic and peaceful manner adding that deciding on the scope of elections would begin at an appropriate time.
However, pro-democracy activists said that progress on reform has been slow and they fear Beijing's interference in the nomination process.
A pro-democracy lawmaker Albert Ho said that the people of Hong Kong have been denied the political right to decide and choose a chief executive for many years.
The protesters gathered in Victoria Park shouted slogans for ousting for CY Leung and some held posters calling for the release of Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo, who is in jail in mainland China on subversion charges.
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The march that took place on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China in 1997, also saw protestors rallying against high property prices and income inequality.
The report further added that Hong Kong is governed under the principle of 'one country, two systems', under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the British handover.
