China Worker: Everyman Studios, Occupied North America

The 15th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China sees the largest turnout on the annual July 1 demonstration since 2003

Pasha Wan, Socialist Action (CWI Hong Kong)

The demonstration in Hong Kong saw enormous crowds chanting “CY Leung, Quit!” as the new chief executive has recently been drawn into a series of scandals involving illegal construction at his home, an issue that brought down his opponent during the ‘small-circle election’ in March.

July 1 is undoubtedly the most special day of year for the people in Hong Kong. For one, it is a public holiday commemorating the handover of the city to China from the British colonial rule. On the other hand, pan-democratic parties and groups have been organizing the annual July 1 demonstration in Victoria Park since 2003, when 500,000 people protested against the notorious Article 23 national security law. This year’s July 1, Hong Kong also sees the new chief executive, CY Leung, sworn into office. The scandals, as well as a fear among the masses of harsher police repression, confirmed by the use of huge water-filled barricades and the often-used pepper spray against unarmed protesters, and the future revival of Article 23, led to a surge in the turnout of this year’s event.

via China Worker.