Hong Kong demonstrators demand reform

  • 12 years ago
More than a dozen protesters march to the Chinese Central Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

The demonstration -- which coincides with the opening of the Communist Party congress that will usher in a once-in-a-decade leadership change -- aims to put pressure on China to pursue political and human rights reforms.

One man says he's disappointed there's been no democratic progress in China.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PRO-DEMOCRACY LEGISLATOR, LEE CHEUK-YAN, SAYING:

"There are no political reforms at all. We only see regression in human rights, we only see regression in democracy."

Amid chants calling for the release of Liu Xiaobo, the jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner and dissident, one rights activist says the government needs to address the popular calls for reform.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, PATRICK POON, SAYING

"So we hope the Chinese government can see it's not just Liu Xiaobo making those demands. Actually people are making similar demands on (microblog) Weibo every day. So we hope that people in China continue to demand the Chinese government to demand this."

During the congress, Chinese President Hu Jintao will give up his role as party chief to anointed successor Vice President Xi Jinping.

Xi will take over state duties at the annual meeting of parliament in March.

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