Beijing weighs in after Hong Kong democracy demonstration

Beijing urged calm in Hong Kong and reminded the territory of its patriotic responsibilities after more than half a million people took to the streets of the Central business district for a pro-democracy rally on July 1st.

Police said a total of 511 demonstrators – 351 men and 160 women – were arrested in the operation to clear the streets after the demonstration to mark 17 years since Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule.

Hong Kong's largest democracy rally in 10 years was to demand full electoral freedom, and at the end of it, hundreds of demonstrators staged a sit-in. More than 100 were still in custody yesterday, the South China Morning Post reported.

Many involved in the sit-in were members of Occupy Central with Love and Peace, the group behind an unofficial referendum on democracy last month in which almost 800,000 people voted.

In a front-page editorial, the Communist Party's official organ, the People's Daily, said patriotism was a natural emotion and "of course patriots should be in charge of the city".

The editorial ran only in the mainland edition of the paper, and was not carried on overseas or English-language sites.

The demonstration was the most defiant display yet of opposition to mainland China’s efforts to control who will be Hong Kong’s chief executive after 2017, when the post is supposed to be chosen by residents of China’s richest city. Demonstrators want nominations to be open to everyone, while China’s leaders want to ensure only pro-Beijing candidates are on the ballot.

US state department spokeswoman Marie Harf said: “We believe that the legitimacy of this person [next leader] will be enhanced if universal suffrage is fulfilled and if the election provides a genuine choice of candidates that are representative of the voters’ will.”

Her remarks prompted a swift response from Beijing.

“The development of Hong Kong’s political system is China’s internal affair. The Chinese government resolutely opposes any interventions by any other countries and expects the relevant country to stop making irresponsible comments on Hong Kong’s internal affairs,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.