Hong Kong protesters march to Legislative Council in protest at 'fake' democracy
But turnout at launch of coalition's campaign against government's electoral reform proposal falls well short of the original 50,000 estimate
Thousands of protesters brandishing symbolic yellow umbrellas marched from Causeway Bay to the Legislative Council building in Admiralty yesterday in opposition to the government's electoral reform package, days before lawmakers vote on it.
"I am confident that the lawmakers will vote down the proposal. I am here to show them my support," said 76-year-old protester Chow Fat-leung. "I took part in [last year's] Occupy movement for more than 50 days. Now I am coming out to protest for my children and my grandchildren."
The rally was organised by a coalition of 14 pro-democratic groups calling itself the Citizens Against Pseudo-Universal Suffrage Campaign.
After chanting slogans such as "say no to fake universal suffrage", the protesters left Victoria Park for an assembly at Tamar.
I am confident that the lawmakers will vote down the proposal
The organisers said 3,500 people took part, well short of their original estimate of 50,000. The police said 3,140 joined the rally at its peak.