"The figure is really no longer important. We have made history today. I think Mr. Tung should seriously look at this," said Lee Cheuk-yan, General Secretary of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), spokesman of the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF). More than half a million Hong Kong residents from all walks of life took to the streets to protest against article 23 legislation. Banners and chants carried a common theme: "Against article 23!", "Democracy to the people!" and "Tung Chee-hwa - Step down!".

      It was the biggest anti-government protest ever held in Hong Kong since the mass rally in 1989 in support of the pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The demonstration overshadowed events to mark the 6th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover back to Chinese rule on July 1, 1997.

      Over 6,000 HKCTU's members and their families assembled at the Pavilion of the Victoria Park. For more than four and a half hours, they stood there in the sweltering heat waiting for their turn to march out of the Park. The route to the Central Government Offices (CGO) was packed solid, but the crowds were orderly. Final after almost two hours the group reached the CGO at 8:30pm.

      "We're here simply to voice our anger over the anti-subversion laws," said one of the marchers. "I think Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa should step down and give Hong Kong a chance," another protestor said.

      The proposal for adoption of Article 23 of the Basic Laws, has aroused concerns around the globe with the ICFTU, trade unions in Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand expressing fears that it would lead to suppression of freedom of speech in Hong Kong which had been granted under the "one country, two systems" principle.

      The CHRF threatened to mobilize the people to besiege the Legislative Council building on July 9, when the national security legislation is put to the vote.

      On July 5 the government made three major concessions, "Proposal to outlaw groups linked to banned mainland organizations is scrapped", "'Public interest' is introduced as a defence for disclosing official secrets" and "'Search without warrant' powers for police are removed" - but rejected the delay on the legislation.

      At 2am of July 7, the Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa announced that the government will defer the second reading of the bill.

      The CHRF has decided to continue with the rally in front of the Legislative Council on July 9 to demand democracy for the people and universal suffrage.