T-Salon

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Derek, Mask of China: "Today could be a historic day in the Hong Kong political atmosphere. A political rally/march is being organised on Hong Kong island by democratic leaders in Hong Kong's. These democrats want to see universal sufferage (voting directly for the chief executive, the leader, of HK) as soon as possible whereas the current leader, Donald Tsang, and the central government in Beijing are proposing baby steps toward universal sufferage."

"Tens of thousands march for Hong Kong democracy," a number of major international news agencies including the Reuters, AP, Bloomberg, reported in their news headlines.

FT: "Hundreds of thousands of people marched through the heart of Hong Kong on the weekend to urge Beijing to introduce universal suffrage in the former British colony, in the biggest pro-democracy protest in the territory in more than two years."

Christine Loh, head of the non-profit policy think-tank Civic Exchange: "Unlike previous marches, no one could say people came out because they were unhappy about the economy, suffered negative equity or didn’t like the former chief executive CH Tung. They clearly flooded out because they wanted to tell the authorities here and in Beijing they wanted universal suffrage soon."

Police estimated 63,000 marchers and the protest organizer put the total turnout number to more than 250,000. "It's never been that much difference. Not even close. As a person who was there, I would say that it was surely larger than the July 1st 2005 protest where the police estimate was at 11,000." Glutter commented. ESWN is keeping track on the numbers reported in both Hong Kong and major international media.

To galvanize the highest possible turnout rate, China Communication Review blog noted that a few days before the march:

"pan-democratic legislators placed joint full page ads on the two English daily newspaper (the Standard, South China Morning Post) for the first time. Besides, they also advertised on Apple Daily, Mingpao, Economic Daily News, Economic Journal and Am730(the new free paper in HK) in the full page color. Moreover, the Next Media magazine which is the member of Next Media Group with Apply Daily dispatches spread page insert to call for universal suffrage (it seems that they wish people to hold it to protest then). There were six full page ads to call on people to protest in today's Apple Daily (including Christian church and some democratic organizations of China). What a money competition!

What should be pointed out that Democratic camps has begun to attempt the new means, such as webBlog , Internet live radio and Postcast （People's Radio Hong Kong-香港人民廣播電臺）, video clips (video 2, video 3) and viral marketing. At the same time, the camps to support government also placed ads, but their voice seems to be weak compared to the opposite side."

Rikkie: "Sir Donald said Hong Kong people must be reasonable and rational in the constitutional debate. But citizens are given no chance to reason with the government in this debate. Hence, I can only give my reasons why I will march on 4 Dec." Glutter also shared reasons on why she march days ahead of the rally.

Hong Kong blogger Sidekick saw many old people in the march. Some of had to walk with the aid of a walking stick or with someone holding them.

The one marcher that stood out from the crowd and received a lot of media attention was Mrs. Anson Chan, former Hong Kong Chief Secretary, who also is dubbed as the "Conscience of Hong Kong". Mrs. Chan had deliberately stayed away from politics since she stepped down. This is the first time she joined a public protest. "I just feel there are moments in one's life that when you have to stand up and be counted. And for me, this is one of those moments," Chan told reporters before the march. "I believe democracy to be good for Hong Kong and in good time, when the time is ripe, it would also be good for my country." [AP via CNN]

But so far, the "march fails to budge leader," according to Reuters.