The Chief Executive HKSAR Government, C.H. Tung, announced on September 5th,2003 the withdrawl of the controversial National Security Bill-without making a commitment on whether it would be reintroduced within his remaining four years terms. Tung said a special working group would be established to review the legislative work without any timetable.

       Lee Cheuk Yan, General Secretary HKCTU heralded the withdrawl as the victory of people power. More than half a million people poured into the street of Hong Kong on July 1st demanding for the scrapping of the Bill and full democracy. The March was organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, of which the HKCTU is a leading member, is also joined by a coalition of religious organisations, unions, human rights organisations, students, community organisations. This is the biggest March since the 1989 pro-democracy March and is a sign that the people of Hong Kong is fighting back against the puppet Government controlled by the Beijing regime and the super rich. Now with a taste of victory, Lee Cheuk Yan believes that it is of utmost importance to continue the momentum from July 1st and fight for full democracy. The Pro-Beijing unions and the business elites want to further delay the process towards full democracy. Our success will depend on whether the people power can be unleashed and strenghthened to counter that of the conservatives.

       The withdrawl of the Bill, though seen by many as a victory of the people power forcing the Government to back down, many political analysts also see the move as a way to save the pro-Government political parties from losing seats at the Legislative Council Election next year. They pointed out that the Government wanted to shift the public agenda to economic issues away from those of democracy to avoid increasing the pro-democracy camp's chances of success at the Election. But a victory is a victory and the people of Hong Kong will remember the day Hong Kong has come out to march against repressive laws and demand for democray.