Organisers of a public rally against a war in Iraq expect more than 200 people to attend the protest in Central today. The size of the march will be the first test of strength of anti-war sentiment in Hong Kong. An AC Nielsen survey of 1,000 households last October found 82 per cent opposed military intervention in Iraq, while 85 per cent did not want the US to act without the backing of the UN. But organisers of today's rally are not sure that such opposition will translate into mass public demonstrations of the type aroused by the security law. 'We hope to get more than 200, but in Hong Kong you can never be sure,' said a spokeswoman for the Asian Peace Alliance, one of the organisers. Greenpeace campaigner Lo Sze-ping said Hong Kong would be affected economically by a war, but residents also had a moral obligation to speak out. 'It takes time for people to come together, so if we get 200 that will be a very good sign.' The rally begins at 3pm outside City Hall in Edinburgh Place. After drama, singing and speeches, the protesters will march to the US and British Consulates General.
