Chinese authorities in Hong Kong arrested 196 protestors at a sit-in to demand electoral freedom, in the city's Central district in the early morning hours Wednesday.
The demonstration, held to mark the anniversary of when China retook control of the former British colony in 1997, was described by some as the largest such rally in a decade, the BBC reports.
Organizers claimed that about half a million people participated, while police placed the number at closer to 100,000.
After a march earlier in the day, hundreds of protestors staged a sit-in in the central financial district, which police deemed 'unauthorized,' leading to the arrests.
Facing annual protests by locals, Beijing has promised to introduce universal suffrage in Hong Kong by 2017, though how that will be implemented remains to be seen.
[ BBC]
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment