Hong Kong (CNN) -- Hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded Hong Kong's streets Sunday, shortly after the city's new chief executive was sworn in during a ceremony with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty.
Despite the humid weather, organizers reported that 400,000 protesters turned out for the annual July 1 protest against what they say is the ever-encroaching hand of the Chinese central government in the city's affairs and freedoms.
It was the largest turnout since the estimated 500,000 protesters who marked the same date in 2003. Police put the figure at a much lower 63,000 people.
In a statement addressing the July 1 march, the Hong Kong government said it "fully respected people's rights to take part in processions and their freedom of expression and would listen to their views in a humble manner."
It went on to say that the government will "uphold the core values of Hong Kong and protect the freedom and rights of the people."
Vocabulary
Despite the humid weather, organizers reported that 400,000 protesters turned out for the annual July 1 protest against what they say is the ever-encroaching hand of the Chinese central government in the city's affairs and freedoms.
It was the largest turnout since the estimated 500,000 protesters who marked the same date in 2003. Police put the figure at a much lower 63,000 people.
In a statement addressing the July 1 march, the Hong Kong government said it "fully respected people's rights to take part in processions and their freedom of expression and would listen to their views in a humble manner."
It went on to say that the government will "uphold the core values of Hong Kong and protect the freedom and rights of the people."
Vocabulary
- encroach 侵入, 超出通常界限
- estimate 估計
- flood 淹沒, 湧到, 充斥
- freedom 自由, 自主
- humble 謙遜的, 謙恭的
- procession 行列, 隊伍
- protester 抗議者; 反對者; 拒絕者
- swear (sworn) 發誓; 宣誓
- sovereingnty 統治權, 主權
- uphold 維護, 維持, 高舉, 支撐
