Hong Kong new year marches

Thousands took to the streets demanding universal suffrage as part of the ongoing democratic development as well as to protest against further influence of mainland China in Hong Kong.

The Front disbanded in August 2021, following accusations by police in April that it was suspected of operating illegally due to not having been registered as organisation; its last remaining spokesperson Figo Chan had been jailed in May in relation to the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests.

[2] On 1 January 2010, protesters called for the release of Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo, drafter of Charter 08, who had been sentenced to 11 years in prison just a month earlier.

[4][5] The protest also came four days after Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's chief executive, was given a warning by China’s leadership to resolve deep-rooted conflicts.

Leung had also been widely accused of hypocrisy over the issue, as he won the election on 1 July last year by criticising his opponent, Henry Tang for the unauthorised building of a huge basement for a villa held in the name of his wife.

Other reasons included universal suffrage, greater democracy, the widening wealth gap and Beijing's meddling in Hong Kong affairs.

The marchers protested seven social issues, including the West Kowloon co-location arrangement, the recent amendments to the Legislative Council's rules of procedure and the potential enactment of Basic Law Article 23.

The organizer, the Civil Human Rights Front, had refused to comply with a request by authorities to stop people from carrying pro-independence banners outside government headquarters.