HONG KONG – There were minor scuffles between police and protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday as up to 10,000 people demonstrated over the government’s budget plan, with some calling it a “Bauhinia revolution”. At least one protester and one policeman were slightly injured in confrontations between the two sides, an AFP photographer said.
The demonstration came days after a U-turn by Financial Secretary John Tsang on the budget, with protesters demanding he use more of a huge surplus to boost retirement protection schemes, public housing and environmental protection. Chanting slogans and waving placards, political parties and citizens marched to government headquarters, accusing the administration of failing to address problems including runaway property prices and a widening wealth gap. “Shame on you, John Tsang!”, “Step down now!”, “Say no to a budget without a vision!” they chanted, pumping fists in the air, as a heavy police presence looked on. “This is a Bauhinia revolution,” James To, a Democratic Party lawmaker, told AFP, referring to the floral emblem of the southern Chinese city.
The protest was inspired by anti-government rallies in other parts of the world, organisers said, estimating about 10,000 people had turned out. Police put the number at 7,000. “The people of Hong Kong are very dissatisfied,” another lawmaker Tanya Chan said, adding: “We want better governance.” Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous Chinese city that guarantees civil liberties not seen on the mainland, including freedom of speech and freedom to demonstrate. Before his about-face, Tsang had refused handouts to citizens despite a HK$71 billion ($9 billion US) surplus in 2010, proposing to inject HK$6,000 into retirement funds, sparking criticism that the money was not benefiting those most in need.
