- Title: Hong Kong marks two-year anniversary of protest movement
- Date: 28th September 2016
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** VARIOUS OF LEADERS OF "UMBRELLA MOVEMENT" ON STAGE SUPPORTER CRYING YELLOW UMBRELLA SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE)(English) CIVIC PARTY LEGISLATOR, TANYA CHAN, SAYING: "At that point, I realised, that is was police who did not believe in the people, and put the tear gas to us. So we are all deeply hurt. And we don't believe it was reasonable to use tear gas and to such force on very peaceful public." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LINING UP FOR SCREEN PRINT VARIOUS OF ACTIVIST SCREEN PRINTING (SOUNDBITE)(Cantonese) ACTIVIST SAYING: "I feel everyone is happy here and I remember our original intention; never forget the thing we are pursuing." HOUSEWIFE, MRS. CHAN, WATCHING ON BRIDGE (SOUNDBITE)(Cantonese) HOUSEWIFE, MRS CHAN, SAYING: "As an ordinary housewife, we aren't usually involved in politics. But during the umbrella movement, which I supported for two months, I realised that politics are related to everyone's livelihoods. And politics bind our daily lives." VARIOUS OF PROTEST
- Embargoed: 13th October 2016 17:11
- Keywords: Occupy protests tear gas anniversary umbrella movement Hong Kong
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA00151HB613
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of pro-democracy activists rallied outside Hong Kong government headquarters on Wednesday (September 28) to mark the second anniversary of protests that crippled parts of the Chinese-controlled city for weeks but failed to secure electoral reforms.
The demonstrations two years ago, when activists streamed on to highways to demand full democracy, became the biggest political challenge to Beijing's Communist Party leaders in years.
Demonstrators held a three-minute silence at 1000 GMT (6 p.m.) to recall when police fired volleys of tear gas to disperse the protests.
"So we are all deeply hurt. And we don't believe it was reasonable to use tear gas and to such force on very peaceful public," said Civic party legislator, Tanya Chan.
Many activists carried yellow umbrellas - a symbol of the fight after protesters used them to try to fend off tear gas - and some had slogans screen-printed onto umbrellas and cloth bags.
"I feel everyone is happy here and I remember our original intention; never forget the thing we are pursuing," said one activist.
The Umbrella Movement was the most serious unrest in the city since China took back from Britain in 1997.
The 79-day protest sparked what many residents of the financial hub see as a political awakening, which has included lively debate over how much control Beijing should have.
But it failed to persuade China to allow a fully democratic vote for the city's next leader in 2017. Beijing says city voters have to choose from a list of candidates it has approved.
"As an ordinary housewife, we aren't usually involved in politics. But during the umbrella movement, which I supported for two months, I realised that politics are related to everyone's livelihoods. And politics bind our daily lives," said another protester, Mrs Chan.
The former British colony returned to Chinese rule under a "one country, two systems" framework that gave it separate laws and an independent judiciary but reserved ultimate authority for Beijing. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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