HONG KONG, July 1 (UPI) -- About 33,500 people took to the streets in Hong Kong Monday for an annual protest of Britain's 1997 handover of the region to China, officials said.
There were multiple confrontations with police during the rally, which took place during heavy downpours.
Participants called for the resignation of Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying, The Wall Street Journal reported.
"The wind and rainstorm on July 1 only indicate the Hong Kong people's determination to kick out Leung Chun-ying," Jackie Hung of the Civil Human Rights Front, which organized the protest, said at the start of the rally. "Mr. Leung was chosen by a small circle. He is not qualified to rule 7 million Hong Kong people."
The South China Morning News reported protesters clashed with police several times.
"We agreed with the police that if [the area outside Sogo department store] was too crowded, the police would open all six lanes in 15 to 20 minutes. We have been waiting for up to 2 hours, and still the lanes are not opened. Leung Chun-ying just does not want to see a photo of people jamming all six lanes," Hung said.
