HONG KONG, July 9: Tens of thousands of people surrounded Hong Kong’s legislature on Wednesday to denounce the government and its planned anti-subversion bill, cranking up pressure on the territory’s embattled chief executive.

Organizers said about 50,000 people took part in the candlelit vigil, which ended peacefully after a few hours. Dragging effigies of the state’s leader and some of his ministers, some shouted: “Step down Tung Chee-hwa!”

The demonstration at the heart of Hong Kong’s business district came a week after half a million protesters took to the streets to condemn the bill in the city’s biggest demonstration since the 1989 Tiananmen Square violence.

A number of academics, politicians and rights activists made impassioned speeches denouncing Tung Chee-hwa’s administration for not listening to the people and calling for more democracy.

“You have demeaned us by not listening to our views ... we want universal suffrage,” academic Chan Kin-man said as the crowded roared in approval.

Protesters were packed in pockets of open spaces and standing shoulder to shoulder in streets surrounding the territory’s legislative building. They raised fists in unison to songs of courage and patriotism. Hundreds of police were at hand to direct traffic.—Reuters