HONG KONG, July 1: In a city often derided as politically indifferent, Hong Kong on Tuesday found a voice among up to 500,000 protesters who took to the streets to denounce a proposed law they fear will make such rallies a crime.

While a carnival atmosphere characterized the march in bright sunshine through Hong Kong’s cramped thoroughfares, many expressed fear that the city’s first large-scale anti-government protest was also likely to be its last.

“This law is just another stepping stone for China to gain total control of Hong Kong,” said banker Kenneth To, 46.

“I’m not here for myself, I’m here for the next generation’s freedoms,” said Yan Sui-lei, a mother in her forties who had brought her 12-year old daughter to the march.

There is mounting concern that the Article 23 law, which will ban treason, sedition, theft of state secrets and subversion, could stifle freedom of speech and strangle the free flow of information.

But on Tuesday afternoon, Hong Kong took the opportunity to speak freely; and in banners, posters and tee-shirt slogans, their attention was directed at appointed Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.

“Tung, get out”, “Tung step down” and “We don’t want you” were among the more polite demands of the territory’s embattled leader.

Some posters depicted him with a custard-pie being slapped in his face and another, less humorously, portrayed a middle finger being held up to the chief executive.

“We are on the streets because we are against Clause 23 and the government has to hear our voices. They have not listened to the people when making this law,” said Sherry Wong, who was marching with four friends.

For many, this was the first time they had taken to the streets in protest. From the very old to the very young, a broad cross-section of Hong Kong’s multi-cultural scoiety walked the five kilometres of the protest route.

“We are worried about our freedom of speech. We are scared the government will use this law for repression, to squash the people,” said a 34-year-old woman.

While the message was serious, the tone of the demonstration was jovial. At the muster point in the sprawling Victoria Park, bands and musicians played rousing songs ahead of the march.

One quartet of guitarists invoked the defiant spirit of the city’s battle against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) by playing “We Shall Overcome”, a song that became a rallying cry against the deadly virus.

And while the garment of choice among the protesters was a sombre black tee-shirt emblazoned with the logo of organiser Civil Human Rights Forum or designs that incorprated the number 23, many wore bright yellow shirts symbolising hope and defiance.—AFP