Hundreds gathered outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong Thursday to mark the third anniversary of mass pro-democracy rallies known as the Umbrella Movement, as fears grow over Beijing’s tightening grip on the city.
HONG KONG: Hundreds gathered outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong on Thursday (Sep 28) to mark the third anniversary of mass pro-democracy rallies known as the Umbrella Movement, as fears grow over Beijing’s tightening grip on the city.
Tens of thousands blocked major thoroughfares in the city for 79 days starting Sep 28,2014 to call for fully free leadership elections in the city, in a movement spearheaded by student leaders who have since been jailed for their involvement.
Hundreds of people raised yellow umbrellas at 5:58pm (0958 GMT) Thursday as smoke was generated from a machine, to mark the time when police fired teargas at protesters, and audio recordings from three years ago were played on speakers.
« I want universal suffrage, civil disobedience! » crowds shouted.
« There’s more younger people coming out, it’s a good thing, » Anthony Kwok, 52, who attended the event told AFP.
« We must be unified in our next step forward, » Kwok, a part-time bartender said.
