Last week, protesters marched on the Hong Kong business district as part of a yearly July 1 rally to mark the anniversary of the territory’s return to China in 1997. The protesters demanded full democracy and highlighted their opposition to Chinese control over the election of the city’s top official. Earlier, 800 000 votes were cast in an unofficial referendum on how the territory’s chief executive should be elected. Hong Kong citizens are not allowed to nominate candidates, who are chosen by an electoral college that is seen as sympathetic to Beijing.