On July 1 self-made millionaire Leung Chun-ying was sworn in as Hong Kong’s new top official by Chinese President Hu Jintao. The day marked the 15th anniversary of the handover from Britain to China, and tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to vent complaints about rising inequity, the slow pace of political reform and fears of the growing influence of mainland China on the semi-autonomous city
Hong Kong: Anger and Protest as City Marks 15 Years Since Its Return to China
Alex Ogle / AFP / Getty Images
Thousands of protesters take to the streets calling for universal suffrage and chanting slogans against new Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying only hours after Chinese President Hu Jintao completed his three-day visit to the southern Chinese territory. Leung, who earlier in the day was sworn in at an inauguration ceremony, took over the city of seven million people amid falling popularity ratings, a series of setbacks and protests over his leadership before he even started his term