Update | Hong Kong democracy movement back on road, but turnout down
But low turnout for march taken as a sign some want more radical action
Turnout for the first major pro-democracy march of the post-Occupy era fell well short of expectations yesterday - but organisers rejected suggestions people were growing less determined about the fight for democracy.
Rather it was a sign Hongkongers no longer had faith in "conventional ways" of protesting, Civil Human Rights Front convenor Daisy Chan Sin-ying said. She said more "alternative" forms of civil disobedience could emerge unless the government heeded public opinion on "genuine democracy".
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The front put turnout for the march from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to Central at 13,000. Independent academics put the turnout at 11,000 to 12,000, while police said 6,600 left the park, with a peak turnout of 8,800. Chan had expected 50,000 people to show up. About 30,000 turned out for the New Year's Day march last year, the front said.
The march was pushed back to coincide with a consultation on reform, which pan-democrats are boycotting as the government refuses to budge from Beijing's limits on nominations for the 2017 chief executive election.