HONG KONG—Tens of thousands of Hongkongers took to the streets Wednesday to renew their call for full democracy but the turnout was noticeably lower than in recent years, reflecting an impasse after a year of bitter battles over political reform.
Thinner crowds at the protest highlight the uncertain direction for the democracy movement after accomplishing its immediate goal last month of blocking the government’s Beijing-backed restricted election plan.
Police lined the route of the protest, held on a public holiday marking Hong Kong’s handover from British to Chinese rule.
Public appetite for more street protests is also diminished after tens of thousands of student-led protesters blocked streets in key districts for 79 days last year to demand free elections for the southern Chinese city’s top leader. The movement caught the world’s attention but did not result in any meaningful change.
“Maybe some of them feel tired and stressed from all these fights and arguments so maybe they want to take a rest,” said Drake Leung, a 27-year-old information technology worker attending the rally. “The package is already vetoed so there’s no real clear reason to come out.”
