Survey forecast a lower turnout but discontent against Beijing is on the rise
Hong Kong (AsiaNews/SCMP) Pro-Democracy groups and organisations are urging Hong Kong citizens to take part in the rally scheduled for 3 PM on July 1. Demonstrators want to protest against Beijing's interference in the internal affairs of Hong Kong and to demand greater democracy. Ahead of the rally at Victoria Park about 10,000 Catholics and Protestants will gather to share a prayer meeting. Leading the prayer will be Monsignor Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, bishop of Hong Kong, Reverend Ralph Lee Ting-sun of the Methodist Church and Reverend Eric So Shing-yit of the Christian Council of Hong Kong.
Chan Kin-man, associate professor of sociology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong estimates that about 200,000 people will take part in the rally compared to the 300,000 expected and the 500,000 who took place in last year's event. According to some observers the expected lower turnout is due to the lack of mobilising issues.
Last year people from all walks of life wanted to express their opposition to the Anti-Subversion Law. The Hong Kong Secondary Students Unions, which had mobilised about 3,000 students via Internet last year, expects a 50% drop this year.
According to Chan Kin-man "the recent easing of tensions between the pro-Democracy people and the central government may turn some people away from the march." In the last few days governor Tung Chee-hwa met some representatives of the pro-Democracy movement, whilst Beijing has promised to grant visas to China to some activists. Some elements of the movement have decided to tone down their criticism of the central government.
The thaw between China and the pro-Democracy movement has improved Tung Chee-hwa's popularity by 1.8%, but it has not reduced the dissatisfaction towards Beijing.
On the eve of the July 1 rally last year, respondents who said they were satisfied with Chinese policy in the territory were about 36%; this year they are 25%. Same trend for the central government whose approval rating has dropped from 40% to 30% in the last 12 months. (ThR)