Topic
July 1 march
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TOPIC
July 1 march
The annual July 1 march in Hong Kong marks the handover of the British colony to Beijing that took place in 1997. The peaceful demonstration has become a rallying point for the city's pro-democracy activists. It captured the public's attention in 2003, when half a million people marched, angered by proposed national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law.
If Hong Kong is to survive this ordeal, the protesters must avoid provocative acts that make crackdowns more likely. The SAR government is most responsible for the escalation, though, through its misguided bill and recent inaction.
Hongkongers have the right to protest, but laws have to be followed and violence can never be justified