HK leader makes democracy vow

Pro-democracy activists are taking part in an annual march Enlarge Image

Hong Kong's Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, has repeated a pledge to create a more democratic system.

He was speaking after being sworn in for a new term in office by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The event came during a weekend of celebrations to mark 10 years since the territory returned to Chinese rule.

Colourful parades and displays have taken place, but thousands of pro-democracy campaigners also gathered to call for political reform.

President Hu was not there to see them as he had already left Hong Kong for the mainland earlier in the day.

Universal suffrage

Hong Kong was returned to China at midnight on 30 June 1997, after more than 150 years under the British.

In pictures: Handover marked

Mr Tsang praised both Hong Kong and China's development in the last decade.

"We have benefited from the process, but also contributed to it," he said. "Hong Kong needs our country, and our country also needs us."

But he also pledged greater efforts on democracy.

"A green paper will be published this year so that we can all work together to identify the most acceptable mode of universal suffrage to best serve the interests of Hong Kong," he said.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Hu said political development in Hong Kong should be "gradual and orderly", and emphasised Beijing's sovereignty over the territory.

Mr Tsang will serve a second five-year term as Hong Kong's leader

"One country, two systems cannot be separated from each other," he said. "The one country means that we must uphold the power vested in the central government."

China and Britain promised in 1997 that Hong Kong would become a full democracy, but did not state when that would happen.

Progress on this is a key issue to many people in Hong Kong - and pro-democracy activists and lawmakers marched through the streets as they do every year on 1 July, to call for full democracy.

They want universal suffrage, the right to elect the chief executive and the ability to directly elect all the members of the territory's mini parliament, the legislative council.

Festivities

While tens of thousands took part in the pro-democracy protests, thousands of other Hong Kong citizens spent the weekend celebrating 10 years of Chinese rule.

At midnight on Saturday, Buddhist monks held a bell-chiming ceremony, counting down to the moment of the anniversary.

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Sunday's festivities began with a flag-raising ceremony. To the sound of the national anthem, the red Chinese flag went up beside Hong Kong's red and white version.

Thousands of people took part in a colourful parade through the centre of the city, complete with marching bands and dragon dancers.

A massive model of a birthday cake was wheeled along the streets.

The day of celebrations ended with a large fireworks display over Victoria Harbour, with the words "Chinese people" spelled out in lights.