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Universal suffrage in Hong Kong
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Johnson Yeung is demanding genuine universal suffrage.

July 1 march organisers urge Hongkongers to fight for democracy in show of people power

Organiser also calls for resignation of chief executive and for Basic Law to be rewritten

The organiser of the annual July 1 march appears to have switched emphasis to add "regaining Hong Kong's autonomy" as a theme of this year's event.

The Civil Human Rights Front is also demanding that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying resign and that the Basic Law - which it says is an obstacle to democracy - be rewritten.

"The drafting of the Basic Law lacks the endorsement of the general public. Many of the provisions seriously put Hong Kong's autonomy in jeopardy," said Johnson Yeung Ching-yin, the front's deputy convenor.

Previous marches have focused on democracy. This year's other theme is "building a democratic Hong Kong".

Yeung cited as an example Article 45 of the mini-constitution, which states that a nominating committee must put forward candidates for chief executive. He said the people should be allowed to nominate candidates.

"We need genuine universal suffrage so we can have a better government that will take care of all Hong Kong people's interests and welfare instead of only those of the rich," he said.

"United, we will regain the autonomy of Hong Kong so that it will be ruled by real Hong Kong people," he said, calling Leung a puppet of Beijing.

The government is expected to put its political reform package before the legislature for a vote as early as mid-June. By the time the march is held on July 1, the package could already have been passed or voted down.

"Whether the reform is passed or not, it will not be the end of our fight," said Daisy Chan Sin-ying, the front's convenor. "We should go out to march to show our determination. We shall not give up until we have got genuine universal suffrage."

The march will start at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay and end at the government headquarters in Admiralty, where the front is planning a large rally.

Details of the route and rally are still being worked out with police, Chan said.

The July 1 march has become an annual ritual on the public holiday that marks the anniversary of the Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule. It caught international attention in 2003 when some half a million people protested against a planned national security law.

The controversial law was later shelved.

Chan declined to give an estimate of this year's expected turnout, but said: "Whether there are 500,000 people or only 200,000 people, the government cannot ignore the views of the people."

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: City's autonomy to be new focus of July 1 march
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