Protest cries drown thin applause

Protests from mainland investors punctuated a solemn flag-raising ceremony to usher in the SAR's second year.

Only 600 people, far short of the expected 2,000, turned up at the event at Golden Bauhinia Statue Square on the Wan Chai waterfront.

The disruption came at the end of the subdued five-minute ceremony, with 20 protesters drowning out thin applause for the raising of the SAR and national flags.

The group, claiming to represent 12,000 people who invested $5.6 billion in 17 aborted mainland property projects, argued with police over whether they could raise a banner supported by balloons.

Investors said they had petitioned the Guangdong Government unsuccessfully for six years and called for Mr Jiang to investigate their complaints.

Security was tight as three gunmen, spotted nearby the previous night, remained at large. Police watched the crowd from above at the adjacent Convention and Exhibition Centre.