I delivered a letter to Hu Jintao and C.Y. Leung yesterday with my grievances. July 1 is a chance for Hong Kong people to protest against corruption, but corruption doesn't only come from the mainland government. The worst corruption comes from the big corporations, who are protected by the government while people in the lower classes continue to suffer.

Kelvin Kuok, 21, organiser of The Leftovers (an anti-food waste organisation)

July 1 is an opportunity for citizens to raise awareness about different social problems. I'm joining the protest to draw the government's attention to the problem of food waste in Hong Kong. Many grocery stores throw away tonnes of good food, instead of donating it to food banks. If I could talk to C.Y. Leung, I'd also ask him to discourage self-censorship in Hong Kong media.

Mrs Leung, 60, convenience store owner

The government doesn't care about small business owners like me. I just hope that the government will allow small businesses to hang on, so that me and my husband can keep trying to make a living selling cigarettes and drinks on the street.

Yawarin Malai, 42, manager, Bangkok Thai Restaurant

I'm happy to take a holiday. I won't be joining any protests because I've been quite satisfied with my life in Hong Kong since I moved here from Thailand and found that there were a lot of restaurant jobs available. Hong Kong treats immigrants quite well, and I was able to get my permanent residency card.

Wong Lai Long, 63, retired

Old, poor people like me have no power here. But we have lived in Hong Kong for a long time and struggled through a lot, and the government should respect us. They should try to improve the quality of life of the elderly in Hong Kong, many of whom are very poor, and they should protect the freedoms of all generations of Hong Kong people.

Ida Alvarez, 60, Overseas Domestic Workers' Union

I am fighting for the rights of domestic workers in Hong Kong. I would like to ask C.Y. Leung to raise the minimum wage to HK$4,000 a month to match minimum wage standards of the International Labour Organisation, let qualified domestic workers apply for permanent residency and reduce our workdays to eight hours a day. I have been working in Hong Kong for 30 years, and I deserve the rights that other Hong Kong residents enjoy.

Cheng Shun-yan, 57, retired civil servant

July 1 is just a time indicator of the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China. The Chinese national teams' victory in international tournaments heightens my sense of national glory rather than the HKSAR establishment day. I fully support and trust Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. I think the democrats will not be able to foster a good relationship with the Chinese government and will thus adversely affect the development of Hong Kong.

Lee Kwok-wai, 53, stock-keeper

July 1 is no special day to me except that it is a holiday. I will just pay attention to the news reports to keep up with what has happened. I am from the grass roots; I think life has been harder since the handover. I do not support Leung Chun-ying, but I'm willing to give him an opportunity as Hong Kong's top official. I want him to build more housing to tackle the problem of 'snail dwellings', and fight for universal suffrage in the territory.

Christina Yu Sau-yee, 50, technician

I am happy about Hong Kong's handover to China. It is better than being a colony. July 1 means something to me and I have a higher sense of national identity on this day. I appreciate and trust Leung Chun-ying. People have paid so much attention to illegal structures only in recent years. I think Leung knew it was against the law, but he just thought it was not a serious illegal act.

Law Mei-choi, 57, financial planner

I am happy on the HKSAR establishment day and my sense of national identity rises on this day. I want to tell Leung Chun-ying to be more honest concerning his problems on illegal structures, and to do his job well.

Sharon Lee Yuen-shan, in her 20s, merchant

I am interested in neither celebrations nor protests on this day. I am 'neutral'. I hope that the new chief executive can perform his duties well, vent public anger, and take good care of the grass roots.

Catherine Leung Kar-yan, 30, laboratory technician

I am indifferent to the establishment day of HKSAR and to politics. I hope that Leung Chun-ying can facilitate economic development and narrow the wealth gap in Hong Kong. Do not just hand out money; this policy is short-sighted. Make long-term plans and build more public housing.

Chiang Chi-kin, 46, driver

I never wanted the handover of Hong Kong to China and felt unhappy in the past. However, as time goes by, I do not have any special sentiment on this day. Despite being given no choice as there is no universal suffrage in Hong Kong, Leung is the best one out of the three chief executive candidates. I hope he treasures this opportunity. What matters most is that he can keep his promises to the public.

Ng Ling-fung, 18, student

I want to fight for democracy in Hong Kong and justice for the late dissident Li Wangyang . This day reminds me that the principle of 'one country, two systems' is now blurred. There is less and less press freedom in Hong Kong. I want to ask Leung Chun-ying his opinions on the June 4 incident and urge him to have a double general election in Hong Kong if I have a chance to meet him.