Tue July 1, 2003 08:19 AM ET

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Brandishing banners, umbrellas and fans, a crowd estimated at hundreds of thousands braved stifling heat on Tuesday to denounce Hong Kong's planned anti-subversion law and demand the right to elect their own leaders.

"Return rule to the people," they chanted. Many wore black to mourn what they said was the demise of rights and freedoms in one of the world's key financial centers.

Critics say the law, which Hong Kong has to enact under Article 23 of its "Basic Law" mini-constitution, poses the biggest threat to basic rights in the former British colony since it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hours before the rally began, protesters burned the Chinese Communist Party flag as China's Premier Wen Jiabao repeatedly tried to reassure the territory that its freedoms would be protected.

By nightfall, organizers said around 500,000 people had turned out for the rally with more still pouring through the streets of Central. A Reuters photographer estimated the crowd at about half that, making it the largest organized protest in Hong Kong since the days following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing.

Many more protesters were stranded miles away as the crush of people heading to the rally overwhelmed subway and bus systems.

The government had said it would not back down on the legislation regardless of Tuesday's turnout. The bill is bound to be passed by the territory's legislature, which is packed with pro-Beijing and pro-government supporters.

While most marchers' prime target was the anti-subversion law, many others said they were frustrated by the government's handling of the ailing economy and the SARS epidemic, which killed some 300 people in the territory.

Marchers came from all walks of life with businessmen, retirees and young couples pushing baby carriages marching alongside veteran pro-democracy supporters.

Political commentator Andy Ho said he was not surprised by the extent of public anger.

"Those who have come out are...not only opposed to Article 23 but a host of government policies," Ho told Reuters.

"This should serve as a wake-up call for the government. If it does not heed people's views, grievances will deepen and it will make it more difficult for it to rule Hong Kong."

The flag-burning took place a few hundred meters (yards) from the convention center where Wen and local leaders were celebrating the sixth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.

"End one-party rule and release political prisoners," the protesters yelled, setting the red and yellow hammer-and-sickle flag ablaze. "We're against Article 23."

In what are believed to be the first public comments by a senior Chinese leader on the controversial issue, Wen repeatedly assured Hong Kong that its special status would be protected.

"The legislation according to Article 23 will not affect the different rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people, including journalists, under the law," Wen told reporters.

"STABILITY THE KEY"

He did not refer to Tuesday's marchers directly, but said stability was the key to the territory's long-term prosperity.

Although Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy after the handover, critics say there has been a subtle roll-back of freedoms since the end of British rule, especially as it grows more economically dependent on the mainland.

The government's push to pass the law this month has stoked concerns that any dissent may soon be treated the same way it is in China. Beijing fears that without the law, Hong Kong will be used as a base for subversive activities against it.

The Falun Gong spiritual group for instance practices freely in Hong Kong but has been banned in China [...]

Under the legislation, people can be jailed for life if convicted of subversion, treason, sedition against or secession from China. It also allows closed-door trials and gives police widespread search powers without court warrants.

But the government's much-maligned handling of the bill and many other issues may have set the stage for a bigger battle.

Its refusal to allow more public consultation and widespread anger at Beijing-appointed Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa has spurred growing calls for more democracy and may have galvanized generations of people into becoming more politically active.

http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3018739