Thousands of Hong Kong people appealed on Friday to China to allow full democracy to take root soon in the city, as opposition lawmakers geared up for a controversial mass resignation plan later this month. Congregating outside the city's legislature, thousands of protesters carried colorful banners with slogans such as Democracy Now as peaceful crowds of young and old wended their way downtown to Beijing's representative office. Others held up massive posters of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, demanding the prominent activist and writer be freed after being recently jailed for 11 years on a subversion charge. While Beijing has already promised to allow a popular election in Hong Kong in 2017 for the city's leader, recent signs, including comments by pro-Beijing figures have suggested Beijing may only allow a power-preserving version of democracy with rules stacked against opposition candidates. Hong Kong's mini-constitution guarantees full democracy as an ultimate aim but the city's seven million people now have no direct say in their leader. The protesters also called for the abolition of special interest groups or so-called functional constituencies, which now make up half the seats in the city's legislature. Well Hong Kong has a system where the majority has to follow what the industries and commercial and business people have to say. This is done through what is called functional constituencies, said Vice Chairman of Hong Kong's Civic Party, Alan Leong. They can veto motions supported by 3.4 million voters. In recent months, some officials have suggested these don't necessarily have to be abolished even under universal suffrage. Organisers said more than 10,000 people showed up on the new year's day return our right to universal suffrage march, while police put the number at more than 4,000.If there's no change, there's no chance. If there's change, then I've got a chance, said designer Ricky Lee, who said he wanted a say in his future.This latest mass public appeal for democracy and civil rights comes as political tensions begin hotting up in the former British colony. A group of five pro-democracy legislators are now poised to resign en masse from the city's legislature, following the release of a political reform blueprint for elections in 2012, which the city's democrats say didn't go far enough. The subsequent city-wide by-elections in Hong Kong's five major districts will trigger what the democrats say will amount to a symbolic referendum on full democracy. But the gamble could backfire.Whatever people think, I think it's not a very wise move because the Chinese authorities can always get other candidates to steal your platform, so it's not a real referendum, said the treasurer of the Democratic Party, Tsui Hon Kwong. Hong Kong, a British colony for 150 years, was returned to China in 1997. The territory of 7 million people is semi-autonomous, but only half its legislature is elected, with the remainder appointed by business and other interest groups. Its leader, or chief executive, is chosen by an 800-member committee controlled by Beijing. Beijing remains wary of mass up swells of public discontent in Hong Kong with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao recently warning Hong Kong's bowtie-wearing leader Donald Tsang to be wary of deep-rooted conflicts. In 2003, half a million protesters spilled onto the streets in anger at the administration of Hong Kong's then-leader Tung Chee-hwa who resigned soon afterwards.
