Hong Kong is preparing to mark the 10th anniversary of the former British colony's return to China tomorrow with crooning pop stars, cuddly pandas and street protests demanding more democracy for the bustling Asian financial centre

Jun 30, 2007
Associated Press

HONG KONG (AP) -- Hong Kong on Saturday prepared to mark the 10th anniversary of the former British colony's return to China with crooning pop stars, cuddly pandas and street protests demanding more democracy for the bustling Asian financial center.

The city's honored guest for Sunday's handover celebration was Chinese President Hu Jintao, who showed off his pingpong skills and sipped tea with working-class families after arriving Friday. It was Hu's first visit to the city since becoming the nation's top leader.

Hu didn't get the completely positive media coverage that he's used to by the state-controlled media back home. Hong Kong, governed as a semiautonomous territory, is much freer than the mainland, and some newspapers frequently rip into the nation's leaders.

The fervently pro-democracy Apple Daily complained on its front page about Hu's security being excessively tight. "Hu Jintao was unable to hear the voice of democracy," the mass-market paper said in a bold headline for a story that said the heavy security insulated Hu from the public.

Saturday's events include the first public display of two pandas that China gave to Hong Kong as a handover anniversary gift. Hu will also attend a variety show on Saturday night, and he'll be at Sunday's swearing-in ceremony for Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang, who will begin a second term.

Hu planned to leave before pro-democracy groups hold an annual street protest on Sunday afternoon. The activists and lawmakers demand the right for Hong Kong voters to directly elect their leader and entire legislature.

After 156 years of British rule, Hong Kong was returned to China on July 1, 1997. The plan was for the city to be governed under a "one country, two systems" formula that would allow to territory to remain capitalist and keep the legal system and civil liberties it enjoyed during British rule.

But like the British, the new Chinese rulers have declined to give Hong Kong full democracy. The leader is selected by an 800-member election committee dominated by figures loyal to Beijing. Only half of the legislature is directly elected, while the other half is chosen by professional and special interest groups.

On Sunday, the pro-democracy march will include Anson Chan, a widely respected figure who was the first woman and first ethnic Chinese to rise to the No. 2 spot in the colonial government's civil service. She left the position in 2001 and has recently emerged as a leading voice calling for full democracy.

Chan said in a statement that by joining Sunday's march, she does not intend to embarrass the government.

She added, "As a community, we share a common goal -- namely to achieve as soon as possible a system of sustainable good governance, based on full universal suffrage."

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