Marchers compete with shoppers on July 1 handover anniversary date

Organisers of activities celebrating the handover anniversary aim to turn July 1 into a shopping day with special deals at 1,000 shops and restaurants - sparking accusations that it is aimed at drawing attention from the annual democracy march.

Businesses including second-hand bag retailer Milan Station, herbal tea specialist Hoi Tin Tong and Macau Koi Kei Bakery, will give discounts of up to 50 per cent or other offers from 2pm to 5pm.

Organisers of the pro-democracy march say the promotion is part of efforts by the government-friendly camp to divert people from their protest. "The pro-establishment camp's motive is very clear," Civil Human Rights Front convenor Jackie Hung Ling-yu said. "They want to get more people shopping so that less people join the march."

And the front's vice-convenor, Icarus Wong Ho-yin, said the efforts showed that Beijing loyalists were worried there would be a large turnout at the July 1 rally.

But Cheng Yiu-tong, executive councillor and chairman of the Hong Kong Celebrations Association, said the aim was simply to let people celebrate the anniversary in their own districts. "We are not against anyone," he said. "We don't care what other people are doing. We just want to organise our own events well."

Cheng said he hoped 100,000 people would join celebrations at 29 venues in all 18 districts, including a two-hour ceremony at Tamar Park near the government headquarters at 12.30pm. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and central government liaison office director Zhang Xiaoming will attend that event. Last year's celebration was held at one venue, Hong Kong Stadium.