HONG KONG, Oct 7: Thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday in a mass rally to demand full democracy by 2012.

Up to 7,000 democracy campaigners braved the blazing sun to march to the government headquarters, wielding banners and shouting “Support universal suffrage, support it until the end”. Around 5,000 had earlier gathered in a city-centre park carrying umbrellas they opened to reveal the numbers ‘2012’, the year they want full democracy to be achieved in the territory.

Although the turnout was lower than the 10,000 organisers forecast, they said it was encouraging given the sweltering heat.

Currently, half of Hong Kong’s 60 lawmakers are chosen directly, with the other half elected by business elites from various sectors. The chief executive is selected by a committee composed mostly of Beijing loyalists.

A three-month public consultation on political reforms in the former British colony expires on Wednesday, and democrats hoped the rally would drum up more support ahead of the deadline.

Organisers said 7,000 people took part in the march to the government headquarters, while police put the number at 4,600.

“We should have open elections and should not be like now when only a few hundred people are able to choose our chief executives. It’s not fair for us,” said demonstrator Pang Kum-tim.

Hong Kong’s former deputy leader Anson Chan, a prominent democrat who is running for a seat vacant after the death of pro-Beijing politician, made a brief appearance.—AFP