UnicoMarketing: What Hong Kong’s rain-drenched protests against Beijing look like

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

What Hong Kong’s rain-drenched protests against Beijing look like

Pro-democracy demonstrators gather on the anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.

Thousands of Hong Kong residents are in the streets for the anniversary of the city’s 1997 return to Chinese rule, to demonstrate against Beijing’s growing influence on the city and its impact on everything from inequality to media freedom.

Organizers say the turn out could be Hong Kong’s largest demonstration in a decade. As many as 500,000 protesters were expected to march on the muggy, rainy afternoon of July 1st—a few days after almost 800,000, or 22% of the population, voted in an unofficial referendum on how the city should elect its leaders.

Here’s what the demonstrations looked like as of the late afternoon:

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Reuters/Tyrone Siu

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Hong Kong advocacy groups used the day to champion various causes including putting a stop to organ harvesting in China.Reuters/Bobby Yip

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Supporters of the pro-Beijing group, “Care for the Youth Group Association Hong Kong” protest against the Fa Lun Gong.Reuters/Bobby Yip

Falun gong has a marching band. Who knew? http://t.co/QTngryY20h—
Ned Levin (@nedlevin) July 01, 2014

China’s much-hated white paper asserting control over Hong Kong plastered on road to let marchers vote with feet http://t.co/gJRPp7ExLn—
Simon Rabinovitch (@S_Rabinovitch) July 01, 2014