Without a Hot Button Issue for the July 1st Rally.....

It will be difficult to rally support for a large turnout for the July 1st National Day rally this year since there is no hot button issue like the Article 23 sedition law. About 500,000 people showed up for the rally July 1, 2003 to protest the government's arrogant mishandling of the sedition law as required by the Basic Law, the Hong Kong mini-constitution. The passing of the law collapsed when faced with mounting public displeasure on the handling of the issue.

This year, however, local organizers plan to hold a mock election for the chief executive who is currently appointed by Beijing and ratified by the local legislature.

The lack of democracy remains a constant, however, say organizers.

``[Acting Chief Executive] Donald Tsang has been handpicked by Beijing to be the next chief executive. Hong Kong people have no right to choose their ideal candidates. This will be an unfair election. Those who believe in democracy should come forward to protest against such a `small-circle' election,'' said protest leader Chong Yiu-kwong. Organizers are being somewhat conciliatory, however, by dropping the slogan ``return power to the people'' as the theme for the march.

It is really truly amazing how scared the mandarins in Beijing are of even a relatively minor official, such as the chief-executive here in Hong Kong, being elected by universal suffrage. The chief executive is the political and economic equivalent of being mayor of a large city like New York.